Toward Precise Measurements of Lifetimes and Ionization Electric Fields in Near-Circular Rydberg States

Rydberg states of atoms and molecules are unique quantum states characterized by unconventional properties, including extreme sensitivity to electric fields and strong dipolar interactions. These features have enabled - and will continue to facilitate - a wide range of applications in quantum science and technology, such as quantum computing and simulation, Stark deceleration, and high-precision quantum sensing. In this talk, I will present our progress in the systematic investigation of two key parameters - lifetimes and ionization electric fields - of Rydberg states, with a particular focus on high-angular-momentum states (l ~ |m| ~ n-1), a regime that remains largely unexplored. We use Rb-87 atoms as a prototyping system, with the measurement techniques and results directly applicable to a broad class of atomic and molecular species. Our experimental setup under construction includes (1) a standard magneto-optical trap (MOT), (2) a tunable cryogenic environment spanning 4 K to 300 K, and (3) a ramped pulsed-field ionization detection system. Preliminary theoretical calculations will also be presented.