Transport of a Single Cold Ion Immersed in a Bose-Einstein Condensate.

We investigate transport dynamics of a single low-energy ionic impurity in a Bose-Einstein condensate. The impurity is implanted into the condensate starting from a single Rydberg excitation, which is ionized by a sequence of fast electric field pulses aiming to minimize the ion's initial kinetic energy. Using a small electric bias field, we study the subsequent collisional dynamics of the impurity subject to an external force. The fast ion-atom collision rate, stemming from the dense degenerate host gas and the large ion-atom scattering cross section, allow us to study a regime of frequent collisions of the impurity within only tens of microseconds. Comparison of our measurements with stochastic trajectory simulations based on sequential Langevin collisions indicate diffusive transport properties of the impurity and allows us to measure its mobility. Our results open a novel path to study dynamics of charged quantum impurities in ultracold matter.

Precision Spectroscopy of Negative-Ion Resonances in Ultralong-Range Rydberg Molecules.

The level structure of negative ions near the electron detachment limit dictates the low-energy scattering of an electron with the parent neutral atom. We demonstrate that a single ultracold atom bound inside a Rydberg orbit forming an ultralong-range Rydberg molecule provides an atomic-scale system that is highly sensitive to electron-neutral scattering and thus allows for detailed insights into the underlying near-threshold anion states. Our measurements reveal the so-far unobserved fine structure of the ^{3}P_{J} triplet of Rb^{-} and allows us to extract parameters of the associated p-wave scattering resonances that deviate from previous theoretical estimates. Moreover, we observe a novel alignment mechanism for Rydberg molecules mediated by spin-orbit coupling in the negative ion.

Rydberg Molecules for Ion-Atom Scattering in the Ultracold Regime.

We propose a novel experimental method to extend the investigation of ion-atom collisions from the so far studied cold, essentially classical regime to the ultracold, quantum regime. The key aspect of this method is the use of Rydberg molecules to initialize the ultracold ion-atom scattering event. We exemplify the proposed method with the lithium ion-atom system, for which we present simulations of how the initial Rydberg molecule wave function, freed by photoionization, evolves in the presence of the ion-atom scattering potential. We predict bounds for the ion-atom scattering length from ab initio calculations of the interaction potential. We demonstrate that, in the predicted bounds, the scattering length can be experimentally determined from the velocity of the scattered wave packet in the case of ^{6}Li^{+}-^{6}Li and from the molecular ion fraction in the case of ^{7}Li^{+}-^{7}Li. The proposed method to utilize Rydberg molecules for ultracold ion-atom scattering, here particularized for the lithium ion-atom system, is readily applicable to other ion-atom systems as well.

Ionic Impurity in a Bose-Einstein Condensate at Submicrokelvin Temperatures.

Rydberg atoms immersed in a Bose-Einstein condensate interact with the quantum gas via electron-atom and ion-atom interaction. To suppress the typically dominant electron-neutral interaction, Rydberg states with a principal quantum number up to n=190 are excited from a dense and tightly trapped micron-sized condensate. This allows us to explore a regime where the Rydberg orbit exceeds the size of the atomic sample by far. In this case, a detailed line shape analysis of the Rydberg excitation spectrum provides clear evidence for ion-atom interaction at temperatures well below a microkelvin. Our results may open up ways to enter the quantum regime of ion-atom scattering for the exploration of charged quantum impurities and associated polaron physics.

Observation of Rydberg Blockade Induced by a Single Ion.

We study the long-range interaction of a single ion with a highly excited ultracold Rydberg atom and report on the direct observation of an ion-induced Rydberg excitation blockade mediated over tens of micrometer distances. Our hybrid ion-atom system is directly produced from an ultracold atomic ensemble via near-threshold photoionization of a single Rydberg excitation, employing a two-photon scheme that is specifically suited for generating a very low-energy ion. The ion's motion is precisely controlled by small electric fields, which allows us to analyze the blockade mechanism for a range of principal quantum numbers. Finally, we explore the capability of the ion as a high-sensitivity, single-atom-based electric field sensor. The observed ion-Rydberg-atom interaction is of current interest for entanglement generation or studies of ultracold chemistry in hybrid ion-atom systems.

Effect of stray fields on Rydberg states in hollow-core PCF probed by higher-order modes.

The spectroscopy of atomic gases confined in hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HC-PCF) provides optimal atom-light coupling beyond the diffraction limit, which is desirable for various applications such as sensing, referencing, and nonlinear optics. Recently, coherent spectroscopy was carried out on highly excited Rydberg states at room temperature in a gas-filled HC-PCF. The large polarizability of the Rydberg states made it possible to detect weak electric fields inside the fiber. In this Letter, we show that by combining highly excited Rydberg states with higher-order optical modes, we can gain insight into the distribution and underlying effects of these electric fields. Comparisons between experimental findings and simulations indicate that the fields are caused by the dipole moments of atoms adsorbed on the hollow-core wall. Knowing the origin of the electric fields is an important step towards suppressing them in future HC-PCF experiments. Furthermore, a better understanding of the influence of adatoms will be advantageous for optimizing electric-field-sensitive experiments carried out in the vicinity of nearby surfaces.

Photoassociation of Trilobite Rydberg Molecules via Resonant Spin-Orbit Coupling.

We report on a novel method for the photoassociation of strongly polar trilobite Rydberg molecules. This exotic ultralong-range dimer, consisting of a ground-state atom bound to the Rydberg electron via electron-neutral scattering, inherits its polar character from the admixture of high-angular-momentum electronic orbitals. The absence of low-L character hinders standard photoassociation techniques. Here, we show that for suitable principal quantum numbers the resonant coupling of the orbital motion with the nuclear spin of the perturber, mediated by electron-neutral scattering, hybridizes the trilobite molecular potential with the more conventional S-type molecular state. This provides a general path to associate trilobite molecules with large electric dipole moments, as demonstrated via high-resolution spectroscopy. We find a dipole moment of 135(45) D for the trilobite state. Our results are compared to theoretical predictions based on a Fermi model.

Hybridization of Rydberg Electron Orbitals by Molecule Formation.

The formation of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules is a result of the attractive interaction between a Rydberg electron and a polarizable ground-state atom in an ultracold gas. In the nondegenerate case, the backaction of the polarizable atom on the electronic orbital is minimal. Here we demonstrate how controlled degeneracy of the respective electronic orbitals maximizes this backaction and leads to stronger binding energies and lower symmetry of the bound dimers. Consequently, the Rydberg orbitals hybridize due to the molecular bond.

Strongly Correlated Growth of Rydberg Aggregates in a Vapor Cell.

The observation of strongly interacting many-body phenomena in atomic gases typically requires ultracold samples. Here we show that the strong interaction potentials between Rydberg atoms enable the observation of many-body effects in an atomic vapor, even at room temperature. We excite Rydberg atoms in cesium vapor and observe in real time an out-of-equilibrium excitation dynamics that is consistent with an aggregation mechanism. The experimental observations show qualitative and quantitative agreement with a microscopic theoretical model. Numerical simulations reveal that the strongly correlated growth of the emerging aggregates is reminiscent of soft-matter type systems.

Alignment of D-state Rydberg molecules.

We report on the formation of ultralong-range Rydberg D-state molecules via photoassociation in an ultracold cloud of rubidium atoms. By applying a magnetic offset field on the order of 10 G and high resolution spectroscopy, we are able to resolve individual rovibrational molecular states. A full theory, using a Fermi pseudopotential approach including s- and p-wave scattering terms, reproduces the measured binding energies. The calculated molecular wave functions show that in the experiment we can selectively excite stationary molecular states with an extraordinary degree of alignment or antialignment with respect to the magnetic field axis.

Evidence for strong van der Waals type Rydberg-Rydberg interaction in a thermal vapor.

We present evidence for Rydberg-Rydberg interaction in a gas of rubidium atoms above room temperature. Rabi oscillations on the nanosecond time scale to different Rydberg states are investigated in a vapor cell experiment. Analyzing the atomic time evolution and comparing to a dephasing model, we find a scaling with the Rydberg quantum number n that is consistent with van der Waals interaction. Our results show that the interaction strength can be larger than the kinetic energy scale (Doppler width), which is the requirement for realization of thermal quantum devices in the GHz regime.

Electrical readout for coherent phenomena involving Rydberg atoms in thermal vapor cells.

We present a very sensitive and scalable method to measure the population of highly excited Rydberg states in a thermal vapor cell of rubidium atoms. We detect the Rydberg ionization current in a 5 mm electrically contacted cell. The measured current is found to be in qualitatively good agreement with a theory for the Rydberg population based on a master equation for the three-level problem, including an ionization channel and the full Doppler distributions at the corresponding temperatures. The signal-to-noise ratio of the current detection is substantially better than that of purely optical techniques.

Dermatological conditions in military conscripts.

BACKGROUND: Published studies regarding skin conditions in the military are mainly cross-sectional studies from clinical encounters during war campaigns and military training. AIMS: To determine the incidence and spectrum of dermatological conditions in a cohort of military conscripts in Singapore. Soldiers diagnosed with contact dermatitis (CD) were further analysed for body area involvement, possible occupational and/or environmental causative agent and restrictions issued. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Subjects' diagnoses and demographic variables were extracted from electronic medical records. Medical records of CD cases were reviewed to characterize the nature of exposure and operational impact on training. RESULTS: The incidence of reporting of new dermatological complaints was 24.5 per 100 military conscripts per year. Dermatological conditions with the highest incidence over the period of full-time military service included fungal skin infection (6.7/100 conscripts/year), non-specific dermatitis (4.9/100 conscripts/year) and insect bite reaction (1.8/100 conscripts/year). The annual incidence of contact dermatitis over the same period was 0.4/100 conscripts. CONCLUSIONS: In a military population based in the tropics fungal skin infections, non-specific dermatitis and insect bite reactions were the commonest reasons for dermatological consultation. CD incidence was 0.4 per 100 conscripts per year.

Association of the Timing and Extent of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Infections With Mortality.

Importance: Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection is a potentially devastating complication with an estimated 12-month mortality of 15% to 30%. The association of the extent (localized or systemic) and timing of infection with all-cause mortality has not been established. Objective: To evaluate the association of the extent and timing of CIED infection with all-cause mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted between December 1, 2012, and September 30, 2016, in 28 centers across Canada and the Netherlands. The study included 19 559 patients undergoing CIED procedures, 177 of whom developed an infection. Data were analyzed from April 5, 2021, to January 14, 2023. Exposures: Prospectively identified CIED infections. Main Outcomes and Measures: Time-dependent analysis of the timing (early [≤3 months] or delayed [3-12 months]) and extent (localized or systemic) of infection was performed to determine the risk of all-cause mortality associated with CIED infections. Results: Of 19 559 patients undergoing CIED procedures, 177 developed a CIED infection. The mean (SD) age was 68.7 (12.7) years, and 132 patients were male (74.6%). The cumulative incidence of infection was 0.6%, 0.7%, and 0.9% within 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Infection rates were highest in the first 3 months (0.21% per month), reducing significantly thereafter. Compared with patients who did not develop CIED infection, those with early localized infections were not at higher risk for all-cause mortality (no deaths at 30 days [0 of 74 patients]: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.64 [95% CI, 0.20-1.98]; P = .43). However, patients with early systemic and delayed localized infections had an approximately 3-fold increase in mortality (8.9% 30-day mortality [4 of 45 patients]: aHR, 2.88 [95% CI, 1.48-5.61]; P = .002; 8.8% 30-day mortality [3 of 34 patients]: aHR, 3.57 [95% CI, 1.33-9.57]; P = .01), increasing to a 9.3-fold risk of death for those with delayed systemic infections (21.7% 30-day mortality [5 of 23 patients]: aHR, 9.30 [95% CI, 3.82-22.65]; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: Findings suggest that CIED infections are most common within 3 months after the procedure. Early systemic infections and delayed localized infections are associated with increased mortality, with the highest risk for patients with delayed systemic infections. Early detection and treatment of CIED infections may be important in reducing mortality associated with this complication.

Cerebral amyloid ß(42) deposits and microvascular pathology in ageing baboons.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have extensively reported the deposition of amyloid ß (Aß) peptide with carboxyl- and amino-terminal heterogeneity in cortical and cerebrovascular deposits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in non-human primates except baboons. METHODS: We examined the immunocytochemical distribution of Aß peptides and Aß oligomers in brain tissue from three subspecies of 18- to 28-year-old baboons (Papio) and in other monkeys including the squirrel (Saimiri sciureus) and rhesus (Macaca mulatta) for comparison. RESULTS: A general preponderance of Aß(42) in parenchymal deposits and many vascular deposits in all cortical lobes was evident in the baboons. Aß oligomeric immunoreactivity was also apparent like to amyloid plaques. We found that the amino acid sequence of the Aß domain of the baboon amyloid precursor protein is similar to that of man. In contrast to Aß, immunoreactivity to hyperphosphorylated tau protein was largely intracellular and rare in these baboons. Brain tissues from squirrel and rhesus monkeys examined in parallel exhibited mostly vascular and parenchymal deposits containing Aß(42) peptides. Our results were comparable to AD, but showed that even in younger monkeys exhibiting few deposits, Aß(42) was evident in both parenchymal deposits and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Perivascular amyloid deposits were frequent and often accompanied by microvascular abnormalities in the form of collapsed degenerated capillaries. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to other primates above and below in the phylogenetic order, our observations and evaluation of the literature implicate pathogenicity of Aß(42) peptide associated with microvascular degeneration in baboons. We suggest baboons are useful animals to investigate the dynamics of AD-related pathology.

Fabrication and characterization of an electrically contacted vapor cell.

We demonstrate the use of electrically contacted vapor cells to switch the transmission of a probe laser. The excitation scheme makes use of electromagnetically induced transparency involving a Rydberg state. The cell fabrication technique involves thin-film-based electric feedthroughs, which are well suited for scaling this concept to many addressable pixels like in flat panel displays.

Highly resolved measurements of Stark-tuned Förster resonances between Rydberg atoms.

We report on experiments exploring Stark-tuned Förster resonances between Rydberg atoms with high resolution in the Förster defect. The individual resonances are expected to exhibit different angular dependencies, opening the possibility to tune not only the interaction strength but also the angular dependence of the pair state potentials by an external electric field. We achieve a high resolution by optical Ramsey interferometry for Rydberg atoms combined with electric field pulses. The resonances are detected by a loss of visibility in the Ramsey fringes due to resonances in the interaction. We present measurements of the density dependence as well as of the coherence time at and close to Förster resonances.

Artificial atoms can do more than atoms: deterministic single photon subtraction from arbitrary light fields.

We study the interplay of photons interacting with an artificial atom in the presence of a controlled dephasing. Such artificial atoms consisting of several independent scatterers can exhibit remarkable properties superior to single atoms with a prominent example being a superatom based on Rydberg blockade. We demonstrate that the induced dephasing allows for the controlled absorption of a single photon from an arbitrary incoming probe field. This unique tool in photon-matter interaction opens a way for building novel quantum devices, and several potential applications such as a single photon transistor, high fidelity n-photon counters, or the creation of nonclassical states of light by photon subtraction are presented.

GHz Rabi flopping to Rydberg states in hot atomic vapor cells.

We report on the observation of Rabi oscillations to a Rydberg state on a time scale below 1 ns in thermal rubidium vapor. We use a bandwidth-limited pulsed excitation and observe up to 6 full Rabi cycles within a pulse duration of ∼4 ns. We find good agreement between the experiment and numerical simulations based on a surprisingly simple model. This result shows that fully coherent dynamics with Rydberg states can be achieved even in thermal atomic vapor, thus suggesting small vapor cells as a platform for room-temperature quantum devices. Furthermore, the result implies that previous coherent dynamics in single-atom Rydberg gates can be accelerated by 3 orders of magnitude.

Loss of SM-B myosin affects muscle shortening velocity and maximal force development.

We used an exon-specific gene-targeting strategy to generate a mouse model deficient only in the SM-B myosin isoform. Here we show that deletion of exon-5B (specific for SM-B) in the gene for the heavy chain of smooth muscle myosin results in a complete loss of SM-B myosin and switching of splicing to the SM-A isoform, without affecting SM1 and SM2 myosin content. Loss of SM-B myosin does not affect survival or cause any overt smooth muscle pathology. Physiological analysis reveals that absence of SM-B myosin results in a significant decrease in maximal force generation and velocity of shortening in smooth muscle tissues. This is the first in vivo study to demonstrate a functional role for the SM-B myosin isoform. We conclude that the extra seven-residue insert in the surface loop 1 of SM-B myosin is a critical determinant of crossbridge cycling and velocity of shortening.