Hannover 2020 – scientific programme

The DPG Spring Meeting in Hannover had to be cancelled! Read more ...

Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help

Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 39: Posters: Quantum Optics and Photonics III

Q 39.16: Poster

Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 16:30–18:30, Empore Lichthof

Rydberg quantum optics in ultracold Ytterbium gases — •José Navarrete, Thilina Senaviratne, Mohammad Noaman, 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. In our group, we explore this novel approach to realize effective photon-photon interaction in multiple experiment setups and following two complementary approaches employing Rydberg polaritons and superatoms.

Here we present progress with our new Rydberg quantum optics experiment utilizing ultracold Ytterbium as optical medium. The specific goal of this new setup is to study the interactions between a large number of Rydberg polaritons simultaneously propagating through a medium with extremely high atomic density. Employiing for the first time ultracold Ytterbium, an alkaline-earth-like element, for Rydberg quantum optics experiments offers unique advantages towards this goal. We discuss details of our experimental implementation and report on the progress towards observation of few-photon nonlinearities in Yb.