中国物理B ›› 2026, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (8): 83201-083201.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/ae6ccf

• • 上一篇    

Ultralong-range Rydberg molecules in cold atom gases

Jingxu Bai(白景旭)1,2, Yuechun Jiao(焦月春)1,2, Xiao-Qiang Shao(邵晓强)3,4, Weibin Li(李伟斌)5,†, and Jianming Zhao(赵建明)1,2,‡   

  1. 1 State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics Technologies and Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China;
    2 Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China;
    3 Center for Quantum Science and School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China;
    4 Institute of Quantum Science and Technology, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China;
    5 School of Physics and Astronomy and Centre for the Mathematics and Theoretical Physics of Quantum Non-equilibrium Systems, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
  • 收稿日期:2026-03-17 修回日期:2026-05-11 接受日期:2026-05-13 发布日期:2026-07-23
  • 通讯作者: Weibin Li, Jianming Zhao E-mail:weibin.li@nottingham.ac.uk;zhaojm@sxu.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    J. Bai, Y. Jiao and J. Zhao thank the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12241408, U2341211, 12120101004, and 12504304), Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University of Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. IRT 17R70), and Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province (Grant No. 202503021212074). X. Q. Shao was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 12174048). W. L. acknowledges support from the EPSRC (Grant Nos. EP/W015641/1 and EP/W524402/1).

Ultralong-range Rydberg molecules in cold atom gases

Jingxu Bai(白景旭)1,2, Yuechun Jiao(焦月春)1,2, Xiao-Qiang Shao(邵晓强)3,4, Weibin Li(李伟斌)5,†, and Jianming Zhao(赵建明)1,2,‡   

  1. 1 State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics Technologies and Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China;
    2 Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China;
    3 Center for Quantum Science and School of Physics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China;
    4 Institute of Quantum Science and Technology, Yanbian University, Yanji 133002, China;
    5 School of Physics and Astronomy and Centre for the Mathematics and Theoretical Physics of Quantum Non-equilibrium Systems, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
  • Received:2026-03-17 Revised:2026-05-11 Accepted:2026-05-13 Published:2026-07-23
  • Contact: Weibin Li, Jianming Zhao E-mail:weibin.li@nottingham.ac.uk;zhaojm@sxu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    J. Bai, Y. Jiao and J. Zhao thank the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12241408, U2341211, 12120101004, and 12504304), Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University of Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. IRT 17R70), and Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province (Grant No. 202503021212074). X. Q. Shao was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 12174048). W. L. acknowledges support from the EPSRC (Grant Nos. EP/W015641/1 and EP/W524402/1).

摘要: Rydberg molecules, formed by one or more Rydberg atoms, exhibit remarkable properties, including an exceptionally large spatial extent, rich rovibrational level structures, permanent electric dipole moments, and a pronounced sensitivity to external fields. Based on the underlying binding mechanisms, Rydberg molecules can be divided into three categories: the ground-Rydberg molecules that are bound via a low-energy electron-atom scattering interaction between a ground atom and a Rydberg electron, the Rydberg-Rydberg molecules that are bound via a long-range electrostatic interaction between Rydberg atoms, and the ion-Rydberg molecules that are bound via single- or multi-polar interactions between a Rydberg atom and an ion. This review focuses on recent theoretical and experimental advances in diatomic Rydberg molecules, covering their formation and binding mechanisms, potential energy curves, experimental observations, and spectroscopic properties, with the aim of providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future prospects of this rapidly developing field.

关键词: Rydberg molecules, macrodimer, potential energy curves, photo-association

Abstract: Rydberg molecules, formed by one or more Rydberg atoms, exhibit remarkable properties, including an exceptionally large spatial extent, rich rovibrational level structures, permanent electric dipole moments, and a pronounced sensitivity to external fields. Based on the underlying binding mechanisms, Rydberg molecules can be divided into three categories: the ground-Rydberg molecules that are bound via a low-energy electron-atom scattering interaction between a ground atom and a Rydberg electron, the Rydberg-Rydberg molecules that are bound via a long-range electrostatic interaction between Rydberg atoms, and the ion-Rydberg molecules that are bound via single- or multi-polar interactions between a Rydberg atom and an ion. This review focuses on recent theoretical and experimental advances in diatomic Rydberg molecules, covering their formation and binding mechanisms, potential energy curves, experimental observations, and spectroscopic properties, with the aim of providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future prospects of this rapidly developing field.

Key words: Rydberg molecules, macrodimer, potential energy curves, photo-association

中图分类号:  (Rydberg states)

  • 32.80.Ee
36.20.-r (Macromolecules and polymer molecules) 33.20.-t (Molecular spectra) 34.20.-b (Interatomic and intermolecular potentials and forces, potential energy surfaces for collisions)