Observation of node-dependent Rydberg molecular bound states

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2608.09950v1
• Date: Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:54:46 GMT
• Title: Observation of node-dependent Rydberg molecular bound states
• Abstract summary: We report the experimental observation of node-dependent p-wave molecular signals in Rb(nS)-Rb(5S) Rydberg molecular spectra.<n>Our findings reveal a more profound quantum control mechanism, wherein the principal quantum number acts as a switch for nodal-selective molecular bound states.
• Score: 43.78588154579659
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: Ultralong-range Rydberg molecules, formed by the interaction between a highly excited Rydberg atom and a ground-state atom, provide a unique platform for exploring quantum phenomena spanning nanometer-to-micrometer distances as well as exotic few-body interactions. The formation mechanisms and resultant physical properties differ markedly between s-wave and p-wave scattering channels. Here we report the experimental observation of node-dependent p-wave molecular signals in Rb(nS)-Rb(5S) Rydberg molecular spectra, where variations in the principal quantum number n directly reveal the shift of molecular binding energies induced by the moving nodal structure of the Rydberg electron wavefunction. This node-dependence is attributed to a cooperative effect between the local gradient of the nS-electron wavefunction and the energydependent p-wave scattering length. In addition, resolving two p-wave bound states associated with adjacent nodes highlights the remarkable sub-nanometer spatial resolution achieved in our experiment. Our findings reveal a more profound quantum control mechanism, wherein the principal quantum number acts as a switch for nodal-selective molecular bound states, and the reported method provides a sensitive spectroscopic probe of electron-atom scattering.

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