Semiclassical model for the formation of Rydberg molecules

A fascinating aspect of Rydberg atoms is their ability to form huge but very weakly bound molecules with a ground state atom, only held together by a scattering process between the latter and the Rydberg electron. Beyond the usual way of creating such molecules by laser excitation from two ground state atoms with a distance of less than the Rydberg radius, we demonstrate that Rydberg molecules can also be formed by capturing an initially faraway ground state atom when it comes in contact with a Rydberg atom. To demonstrate this effect, we investigate the scattering process between the Rydberg electron and the ground state atom within a semiclassical framework. In this picture capturing results from a dissipative finite-mass correction term in the classical equations of motion. We show that and under which conditions the capturing takes place. PACS numbers: 34.50.Cx, 34.20.Cf Semiclassical model for the formation of Rydberg molecules 2