%0 Journal Article
%T Simultaneous position and state measurement of Rydberg atoms
%A C. S. E. van Ditzhuijzen
%A A. F. Koenderink
%A L. D. Noordam
%A H. B. van Linden van den Heuvell
%J Physics
%D 2006
%I arXiv
%R 10.1140/epjd/e2006-00140-1
%X We present a technique for state-selective position detection of cold Rydberg atoms. Ground state Rb atoms in a magneto-optical trap are excited to a Rydberg state and are subsequently ionized with a tailored electric field pulse. This pulse selectively ionizes only atoms in e.g. the 54d state and not in the 53d state. The released electrons are detected after a slow flight towards a micro channel plate. From the time of flight of the electrons the position of the atoms is deduced. The state selectivity is about 20:1 when comparing 54d with 53d and the one-dimensional position resolution ranges from 6 to 40 $\mu$m over a range of 300 $\mu$m. This state selectivity and position resolution are sufficient to allow for the observation of coherent quantum excitation transport.
%U http://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0602183v3