Quantum optics with Rydberg superatoms

Quantum optics with Rydberg superatoms

Blog Article

Quantum optics based on highly excited atoms, also known as Rydberg atoms, has cemented itself as a powerful platform for the manipulation of light at the few-photon level.The Rydberg blockade, Machines resulting from the strong interaction between individual Rydberg atoms, can turn a large ensemble of atoms into a system which collectively resembles a single two-level emitter, a so-called Rydberg superatom.The coupling of this artificial emitter to a driving photonic mode is collectively enhanced by Rydberg interactions, enabling strong coherent coupling at the few-photon level in free-space.The exquisite level of control achievable through this has already demonstrated its utility in applications of quantum computing and information processing.Here, we review the derivation of the collective coupling between a Rydberg superatom and a single light mode and discuss the similarity of this free-space setup to waveguide quantum electrodynamics systems of quantum emitters coupled to photonic waveguides.

We also briefly Dab Tools review applications of Rydberg superatoms to quantum optics such as single-photon generation and single-photon subtraction.