Experiments on ultra-cold Rb: Rydberg atoms and Rb2 molecules

This thesis presents simulated and experimental results on ultra-cold Rb Rydberg atoms and ultra-cold Rb2 molecules formed through a photo-association process. Rydbreg results include a study of population dynamics following excitation to a pure Rydberg state as well as interactions with external fields. Photo-association results include an isotopic comparison of molecules created by laser-fields tuned below the 5s+5p asymptote in both stable Rb isotopes 85Rb and 87Rb.