Karpiuk, TomaszBrewczyk, MirosławRzążewski, KazimierzGaj, AnitaBalewski, Jonathan B.Krupp, Alexander T.Schlagmüller, MichaelLöw, RobertHofferberth, SebastianPfau, Tilman2024-12-202024-12-2020151367-26301915218403http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:93-opus-ds-154836http://elib.uni-stuttgart.de/handle/11682/15483http://dx.doi.org/10.18419/opus-15464The quantum mechanical states of electrons in atoms and molecules are distinct orbitals, which are fundamental for our understanding of atoms, molecules and solids. Electronic orbitals determine a wide range of basic atomic properties, allowing also for the explanation of many chemical processes. Here, we propose a novel technique to optically image the shape of electron orbitals of neutral atoms using electron-phonon coupling in a Bose-Einstein condensate. To validate our model we carefully analyze the impact of a single Rydberg electron onto a condensate and compare the results to experimental data. Our scheme requires only well-established experimental techniques that are readily available and allows for the direct capture of textbook-like spatial images of single electronic orbitals in a single shot experiment.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/530article2023-11-14