title: Hybridization of Rydberg Electron Orbitals by Molecule Formation.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 5. Physikalisches Institut and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaj
authors.affiliation: 5. Physikalisches Institut and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Krupp
authors.affiliation: 5. Physikalisches Institut and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ilzhöfer
authors.affiliation: 5. Physikalisches Institut and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Löw
authors.affiliation: 5. Physikalisches Institut and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hofferberth
authors.affiliation: 5. Physikalisches Institut and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pfau