Laser Trapping of Circular Rydberg Atoms

Understand

Rydberg atoms are remarkable tools for quantum simulation and computation.

• They are the focus of an intense experimental activity mainly based on low-angular-momentum Rydberg states.
• Unfortunately, atomic motion and levels lifetime limit the experimental time-scale to about 100$\mu$s.
• Here, we demonstrate laser trapping of long-lived circular Rydberg states for up to 10ms.