Rydberg atoms with principal quantum number $n⪢1$ have exaggerated atomic properties including dipole-dipole interactions that scale as ${n}^{4}$ and radiative lifetimes that scale as ${n}^{3}$. It was proposed a decade ago to take advantage of these properties to implement quantum gates between neutral atom qubits. The availability of a strong long-range interaction that can be coherently turned on and off is an enabling resource for a wide range of quantum information tasks stretching far beyond the original gate proposal. Rydberg enabled capabilities include long-range two-qubit gates, collective encoding of multiqubit registers, implementation of robust light-atom quantum interfaces, and the potential for simulating quantum many-body physics. The advances of the last decade are reviewed, covering both theoretical and experimental aspects of Rydberg-mediated quantum information processing.

Quantum information with Rydberg atoms

Plasma–liquid interactions represent a growing interdisciplinary area of research involving plasma science, fluid dynamics, heat and mass transfer, photolysis, multiphase chemistry and aerosol science. This review provides an assessment of the state-of-the-art of this multidisciplinary area and identifies the key research challenges. The developments in diagnostics, modeling and further extensions of cross section and reaction rate databases that are necessary to address these challenges are discussed. The review focusses on non-equilibrium plasmas.

/pdf/plasma-liquid-interactions-a-review-and-roadmap-4kfoerpjnh.pdf

Plasma-liquid interactions: A review and roadmap

The THEMIS plasma instrument is designed to measure the ion and electron distribution functions over the energy range from a few eV up to 30 keV for electrons and 25 keV for ions. The instrument consists of a pair of “top hat” electrostatic analyzers with common 180°×6° fields-of-view that sweep out 4π steradians each 3 s spin period. Particles are detected by microchannel plate detectors and binned into six distributions whose energy, angle, and time resolution depend upon instrument mode. On-board moments are calculated, and processing includes corrections for spacecraft potential. This paper focuses on the ground and in-flight calibrations of the 10 sensors on five spacecraft. Cross-calibrations were facilitated by having all the plasma measurements available with the same resolution and format, along with spacecraft potential and magnetic field measurements in the same data set. Lessons learned from this effort should be useful for future multi-satellite missions.

The THEMIS ESA Plasma Instrument and In-flight Calibration

Quantum defect theory (QDT) is concerned with the properties of an electron in the field of a positive ion and, in particular, with expressing those properties in terms of analytical functions of the energy. It provides a unified theory of bound states, including series perturbations, autoionisation and electron-ion scattering, both elastic and inelastic. The main emphasis of the review is on the foundations of the theory. Properties of Coulomb functions are discussed in some detail and outline sketches are given of relevant topics in collision theory and radiative theory. One-channel and many-channel QDT are discussed separately. Applications to the following problems are considered: resonances, atomic collision calculations, systems with two energy levels of the ion core, helium, other rare gases, alkaline earths and other atomic systems, molecular hydrogen, dielectronic recombination.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0034-4885/46/2/002/pdf

Quantum defect theory

We have developed a simplified version of the side-pumped pulsed dye laser which has a spectral halfwidth of 1.25 GHz and a peak power of 10 kW at 600 nm. The basic laser consists of only four components (output mirror, dye cell, diffraction grating, and tuning mirror) and is exceptionally easy to align. Since the beam expander has been eliminated, the laser cavity can be made quite compact. Under the condition of reduced gain, the laser has been operated in a single mode.

http://telab.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/docs/specs/ao-17-14-2224.pdf

Spectrally narrow pulsed dye laser without beam expander.

List of contributors Preface 1. Rydberg atoms in astrophysics A. Dalgarno 2. Theoretical studies of hydrogen Rydberg atoms in electric fields R. J. Damburg and V. V. Kolosov 3. Rydberg atoms in strong fields D. Kleppner, Michael G. Littman and Myron L. Zimmerman 4. Spectroscopy of one- and two-electron Rydberg atoms C. Fabre and S. Haroche 5. Interaction of Rydberg atoms with blackbody radiation T. F. Gallagher 6. Theoretical approaches to low-energy collisions of Rydberg atoms with atoms and ions A. P. Hickman, R. E. Olson and J. Pascale 7. Experimental studies of the interaction of Rydberg atoms with atomic species at thermal energies F. Gounand and J. Berlande 8. Theoretical studies of collisions of Rydberg atoms with molecules Michio Matsuzawa 9. Experimental studies of thermal-energy collisions of Rydberg atoms with molecules F. B. Dunning and R. F. Stebbings 10. High-Rydberg molecules Robert S. Freund 11. Theory of Rydberg collisions with electrons, ions and neutrals M. R. Flannery 12. Experimental studies of the interactions of Rydberg atoms with charged particles J. -F. Delpech 13. Rydberg studies using fast beams Peter M. Koch Index.

Rydberg states of atoms and molecules

Absolute partial cross sections from threshold to 1000 eV are reported for electron-impact ionization of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, and ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$. Data are presented for the production of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{\mathrm{}+}$ and ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$ from ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$; the production of ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}^{\mathrm{}+}$, ${\mathrm{N}}^{+}$+${\mathrm{N}}_{2}^{\mathrm{}2+}$, and ${\mathrm{N}}^{2+}$ from ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$; and the production of ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}^{\mathrm{}+}$, ${\mathrm{O}}^{+}$+${\mathrm{O}}_{2}^{\mathrm{}2+}$, and ${\mathrm{O}}^{2+}$ from ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$. The product ions are mass analyzed with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer and detected with a position-sensitive detector whose output provides clear evidence that all energetic fragment ions are collected. The overall uncertainty in the absolute cross-section values for singly charged parent ions is \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.5% and is marginally higher for fragment ions. Previous cross-section measurements are compared to the present results. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

Absolute partial cross sections for electron-impact ionization of H2, N2, and O2 from threshold to 1000 eV

Absolute partial cross sections from threshold to 1000 eV are reported for the production of ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{\mathit{n}+}$ (n=1--4) by electron-impact ionization of argon. The total cross sections, obtained from an appropriately weighted sum of the partial cross sections, are also reported. These results are obtained with an apparatus incorporating a time-of-flight mass spectrometer with position-sensitive detection of the product ions. The simple apparatus design embodies recent developments in pressure measurement and particle detection and is believed to yield more reliable results than those previously reported. For singly charged ions, the overall uncertainty in the absolute cross section values reported here is \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.5%. Previous measurements of absolute partial and total cross sections are reviewed and compared with the present results.

Absolute partial and total cross sections for electron-impact ionization of argon from threshold to 1000 eV.

This paper presents a characterization of a commercially available position‐sensitive detector of energetic ions and neutrals. The detector consists of two microchannel plates followed by a resistive position‐encoding anode. The work includes measurement of absolute efficiencies of H+, He+, and O+ ions in the energy range between 250 and 5000 eV, measurement of relative detection efficiencies as a function of particle impact angle, and a simple method for accurate measurement of the time at which a particle strikes the detector.

Absolute and angular efficiencies of a microchannel-plate position-sensitive detector

Absolute partial cross sections for electron-impact ionization of H2O and D2O are reported for electron energies from threshold to 1000 eV. Data are presented for the production of H2O++OH++O+, O2+, H2+, and H+ from H2O and for the production of D2O+, OD+, O+, O2+, D2+, and D+ from D2O. The product ions are mass analyzed using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer and detected with a position-sensitive detector whose output demonstrates that all product ions are completely collected. The overall uncertainty in the absolute cross section values is ±4.5% for singly charged parent ions and is slightly greater for fragment ions. The cross sections for H2O and D2O are found to be the same to within experimental uncertainties except for the H2+ cross section which is approximately a factor of 2 greater than the D2+ cross section. Previous results are compared to the present measurements.

R. F. Stebbings

Papers

Rydberg states of atoms and molecules

Absolute partial cross sections for electron-impact ionization of H2, N2, and O2 from threshold to 1000 eV

Absolute partial and total cross sections for electron-impact ionization of argon from threshold to 1000 eV.

Absolute and angular efficiencies of a microchannel-plate position-sensitive detector

Absolute partial cross sections for electron-impact ionization of H2O and D2O from threshold to 1000 eV