Strong Spin-Motion Coupling in the Ultrafast Dynamics of Rydberg Atoms
Vineet Bharti, Seiji Sugawa, Masaya Kunimi, Vikas Singh Chauhan, T. P. Mahesh, Miwako Mizoguchi, Takuya Matsubara, Takafumi Tomita, Sylvain de Léséleuc, Kenji Ohmori
Abstract
Rydberg atoms in optical lattices and tweezers is now a well-established platform for simulating quantum spin systems. However, the role of the atoms' spatial wave function has not been examined in detail experimentally. Here, we show a strong spin-motion coupling emerging from the large variation of the interaction potential over the wave function spread. We observe its clear signature on the ultrafast many-body nanosecond-dynamics of atoms excited to a Rydberg S state, using picosecond pulses, from an unity-filling atomic Mott-insulator. We also propose an approach to tune arbitrarily the strength of the spin-motion coupling relative to the motional energy scale set by trapping potentials. Our work provides a new direction for exploring the dynamics of strongly correlated quantum systems by adding the motional degree of freedom to the Rydberg simulation toolbox.