Abstract
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.
- Received 1 July 2020
- Accepted 12 November 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.033401
© 2021 American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Viewpoint
Tracking a Single Ion in an Ultracold Gas
Published 19 January 2021
Direct observation of an ion moving through a Bose-Einstein condensate identifies the effect of ion-atom collisions on charge transport in an ultracold gas.
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