Alignment of s-state Rydberg molecules in magnetic fields

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Hummel, Frederic, Fey, Christian, Schmelcher, Peter
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 01.02.2019
• Subjects: Chemical bonds; Coupling (molecular); Magnetic fields; Magnetic properties; Physics - Atomic Physics; Potential energy; Spin-orbit interactions
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1809.02021

We unravel some peculiar properties of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules formed by an \(s\)-state \(^{87}\)Rb Rydberg atom and a corresponding ground-state atom whose electronic orbitals are spherically symmetric and therefore should not be influenced by the presence of weak magnetic fields. However, the electron-atom interaction, which establishes the molecular bond, is under certain conditions subject to a sizeable spin-orbit coupling and, hence, sensitive to the magnetic field. This mechanism can be harnessed to counterintuitively align the \(s\)-state molecules with respect to the field axis. We demonstrate this by analyzing the angular-dependent Born-Oppenheimer potential energy surfaces and the supported vibrational molecular states. Our predictions open novel possibilities to access the physics of relativistic electron-atom scattering experimentally.