Rostock 2019 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 42: Poster: Quantum Optics and Photonics II

Q 42.15: Poster

Wednesday, March 13, 2019, 16:15–18:15, S Atrium Informatik

Rydberg quantum optics in ultracold atomic gases — Philipp Lunt, •Nina Stiesdal, Aksel Nielsen, Mohammad Noaman, Hannes Busche, Simon Ball, and Sebastian Hofferberth — University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

Mapping the strong interaction between Rydberg excitations in ultracold atomic ensembles onto single photons enables the realization of optical nonlinearities which can modify light on the level of individual photons. We use this approach to realize effective photon-photon interaction in multiple experimental setups.

Here we present our work on a single Rydberg superatom, an optical medium smaller than a single Rydberg blockade volume, strongly coupled to a probe field with which we can achieve coherent coupling even if the probe contains only few photons. With the superatom we can study the dynamics of a single two level system strongly coupled to a quantized free-space propagating light field, enabling for example the investigation of intrinsic three-photon correlations mediated by a single quantum emitter. We show our experimental progress towards the formation of multiple superatoms coupled to a single probe-mode. We also discuss our development of a new experiment designed to study the interactions between many Rydberg polaritons simultaneously propagating through a medium with extremely high atomic density. Our new setup is the first to use ultracold ytterbium, an alkaline-earth-like element, for Rydberg quantum optics experiments. We discuss details of our experimental implementation and report on the progress towards observation of few-photon nonlinearities in ytterbium.