title: Ponderomotive optical lattice for Rydberg atoms.
abstract: We propose to use the ponderomotive energy of Rydberg electrons in standing-wave light fields to form an optical lattice for Rydberg atoms. Application of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation shows that, with readily achievable experimental parameters, atoms in any Rydberg state can be trapped. Realization of this scheme would extend the benefits of atom trapping to highly excited atoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1120, USA.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Guest
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feldbaum
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walz-Flannigan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raithel