Impact-parameter selective Rydberg atom collision by optical tweezers

Abstract: Cold collisions between two Rydberg rubidium atoms ($^{87}$Rb) are investigated by controlling the impact parameter and collision energy. Optical tweezers are employed to hold one atom stationary while propelling the other to a constant velocity. After the tweezers are deactivated, both atoms are excited to a Rydberg state by a $\pi$-pulse. After a collision, a second $\pi$-pulse is applied. If the stationary atom does not experience a significant momentum transfer and is de-excited to its ground state, it can be recaptured when reactivating the tweezer. The impact parameter dependent collision probability is extracted from the atom loss from the tweezer and used to evaluate the collisional cross section between Rydberg atoms. Quantum and classical simulations of elastic two-body collisions show good agreement with the present experimental data and provide insights into the critical parameter regime where quantum effects become important.