{"id":{"repo_id":"rice","oai_identifier":"oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/113690"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/rice/oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/113690","repository":{"repo_id":"rice","name":"Rice University","base_url":"https://repository.rice.edu/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Probing nonlocal correlations with ultralong-range Rydberg molecules","abstract":"Ultracold atomic systems provide pristine environments for creating and manipulating strongly-interacting quantum systems. The flexibility and utility of ultracold atomic systems comes at the cost of isolation of the quantum system away from environmental perturbations inside of an ultra-high vacuum chamber. This isolation reduces the number of ways that these systems can be probed, in particular, there are relatively few ways to probe correlations in these systems at mesoscopic length scales. In this thesis we present a new technique for probing correlations in ultracold atomic gases using ultralong-range Rydberg molecules. We will present a description of the relevant experimental apparatus and techniques developed for laser cooling and trapping ultracold mixtures of Sr, and a brief theoretical discussion on the relationship between the pair correlation function $g^{(2)}(R)$ and the excitation rates of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules. We present two publications: the first on using ultralong-range Rydberg molecules to probe $g^{(2)}(R)$ in thermal gases, and the second on the creation of heteronuclear ultralong-range Rydberg molecules from a strongly interacting Bose mixture of $^{88}$Sr and $^{84}$Sr. Finally, we will present conclusions and a brief outlook for the future experiments utilizing this method.","abstract_html":"Ultracold atomic systems provide pristine environments for creating and manipulating strongly-interacting quantum systems. The flexibility and utility of ultracold atomic systems comes at the cost of isolation of the quantum system away from environmental perturbations inside of an ultra-high vacuum chamber. This isolation reduces the number of ways that these systems can be probed, in particular, there are relatively few ways to probe correlations in these systems at mesoscopic length scales. In this thesis we present a new technique for probing correlations in ultracold atomic gases using ultralong-range Rydberg molecules. We will present a description of the relevant experimental apparatus and techniques developed for laser cooling and trapping ultracold mixtures of Sr, and a brief theoretical discussion on the relationship between the pair correlation function <span class=\"etd-inline-math\">g<sup>(2)</sup>(R)</span> and the excitation rates of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules. We present two publications: the first on using ultralong-range Rydberg molecules to probe <span class=\"etd-inline-math\">g<sup>(2)</sup>(R)</span> in thermal gases, and the second on the creation of heteronuclear ultralong-range Rydberg molecules from a strongly interacting Bose mixture of <span class=\"etd-inline-math\"><sup>88</sup></span>Sr and <span class=\"etd-inline-math\"><sup>84</sup></span>Sr. Finally, we will present conclusions and a brief outlook for the future experiments utilizing this method.","abstract_has_math":true,"creators":["Whalen, Joseph D"],"institution":"Rice University","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":"Natural Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Killian, Thomas C"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021-06-14","date_published":"2021-06-14","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:10:22Z","subjects":["Ultracold atoms","strontium","laser cooling","ultracold mixtures","Rydberg atoms","Rydberg molecules","correlations"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1911/113690","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Killian, Thomas C"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Whalen, Joseph D"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2022-10-11T19:21:46Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2022-10-11T19:21:46Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2021-06-14"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Natural Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Rice University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Ultracold atoms","strontium","laser cooling","ultracold mixtures","Rydberg atoms","Rydberg molecules","correlations"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/1911/113690"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Ultracold atomic systems provide pristine environments for creating and manipulating strongly-interacting quantum systems. The flexibility and utility of ultracold atomic systems comes at the cost of isolation of the quantum system away from environmental perturbations inside of an ultra-high vacuum chamber. This isolation reduces the number of ways that these systems can be probed, in particular, there are relatively few ways to probe correlations in these systems at mesoscopic length scales. In this thesis we present a new technique for probing correlations in ultracold atomic gases using ultralong-range Rydberg molecules. We will present a description of the relevant experimental apparatus and techniques developed for laser cooling and trapping ultracold mixtures of Sr, and a brief theoretical discussion on the relationship between the pair correlation function $g^{(2)}(R)$ and the excitation rates of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules. We present two publications: the first on using ultralong-range Rydberg molecules to probe $g^{(2)}(R)$ in thermal gases, and the second on the creation of heteronuclear ultralong-range Rydberg molecules from a strongly interacting Bose mixture of $^{88}$Sr and $^{84}$Sr. Finally, we will present conclusions and a brief outlook for the future experiments utilizing this method."]},{"key":"dc:format.mimetype","label":"Dc Format Mimetype","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Probing nonlocal correlations with ultralong-range Rydberg molecules"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Killian, Thomas C"],"dc:creator":["Whalen, Joseph D"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2022-10-11T19:21:46Z"],"dc:date.available":["2022-10-11T19:21:46Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2021-06-14"],"dc:description.abstract":["Ultracold atomic systems provide pristine environments for creating and manipulating strongly-interacting quantum systems. The flexibility and utility of ultracold atomic systems comes at the cost of isolation of the quantum system away from environmental perturbations inside of an ultra-high vacuum chamber. This isolation reduces the number of ways that these systems can be probed, in particular, there are relatively few ways to probe correlations in these systems at mesoscopic length scales. In this thesis we present a new technique for probing correlations in ultracold atomic gases using ultralong-range Rydberg molecules. We will present a description of the relevant experimental apparatus and techniques developed for laser cooling and trapping ultracold mixtures of Sr, and a brief theoretical discussion on the relationship between the pair correlation function $g^{(2)}(R)$ and the excitation rates of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules. We present two publications: the first on using ultralong-range Rydberg molecules to probe $g^{(2)}(R)$ in thermal gases, and the second on the creation of heteronuclear ultralong-range Rydberg molecules from a strongly interacting Bose mixture of $^{88}$Sr and $^{84}$Sr. Finally, we will present conclusions and a brief outlook for the future experiments utilizing this method."],"dc:format.mimetype":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1911/113690"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:rights":["Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder."],"dc:subject":["Ultracold atoms","strontium","laser cooling","ultracold mixtures","Rydberg atoms","Rydberg molecules","correlations"],"dc:title":["Probing nonlocal correlations with ultralong-range Rydberg molecules"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Natural Sciences"],"thesis:degree_level":["Doctoral"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy"],"thesis:institution_name":["Rice University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:10:22Z"}