Speaker
Description
We present the first step towards the buildup of a versatile quantum simulator using Rydberg states of the multi-electron atom erbium in optical Tweezers. Our experimental and theoretical study comprises the Rydberg spectrum for series connected to the two lowest 4f12(3H6)6s, Jc = 13/2 and Jc = 11/2 ionic core states of erbium. We use an all-optical detection scheme based on electromagnetically induced transparency in an atomic beam and identify approximately 550 states. Calculations using a multi-channel quantum defect theory (MQDT) shows good agreement and allows us to assign most of the states to the ns or nd Rydberg series. We also identify a state presumably from the ng Rydberg series, which we are able to couple to due to the special open-shell structure of erbium. We provide an improved accuracy for the lowest two ionization thresholds and the corresponding quantum defects for all observed series. Our results path the way for the buildup of a unique quantum simulator with erbium Rydberg states, exploiting specific lanthanide features in combination with a flexible optical tweezer setup.
