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    Probing Dipolar Interactions between Rydberg Atoms and Ultracold Polar Molecules

    Lingbang Zhu*, Jeshurun Luke*, Roy Shaham, Yi-Xiang Liu, and Kang-Kuen Ni

    • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
    • Contact author: ni@chemistry.harvard.edu

    Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 153001 – Published 6 October, 2025

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/48rk-sxfs

    Abstract

    We probe resonant dipolar interactions between ultracold K40Rb87 molecules and Rydberg Rb87 atoms in an optically trapped ensemble. Through state-selective ionization detection of the KRb molecules, we observe resonant energy transfer at 2.227 GHz from Rydberg atoms to molecules under a tunable external electric field. We measure a broadening up to 3.5 MHz, for the Rb Rydberg excitation spectrum, which matches a Monte Carlo simulation that describes a Rydberg atom and neighboring molecules evolving under a dipole-dipole interacting Hamiltonian. The demonstrated interspecies dipolar interaction is a key ingredient for hybrid Rydberg-polar molecule systems, where the advantages of each system can be leveraged and combined.

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