Highly excited Rydberg atoms (usually principal quantum number n>10) have exaggerated properties quite different from those of low-lying states, which give Rydberg atomic systems very rich physics for the research and development of various quantum technologies. Currently, Rydberg systems are one of the fastest developing quantum platforms, and show great advantages in many quantum technology directions. Our group focuses research on utilizing strong and long-range interactions and nonlinear effects (within and between atoms) to explore fundamental physics and develop related quantum technology applications.
Imaging a Chain of Rydberg Superatoms Enabled by Förster-Resonance-Enhanced Interaction
Authors：Prof. Wenhui Li
We demonstrate single-shot and in situ absorption imaging of individual Rydberg superatoms. This level of resolution is achieved using an electromagnetically induced transparency scheme involving a Rydberg energy level that is highly sensitive to the presence of Rydberg superatoms due to Förster-resonance-enhanced dipole couplings. Spectroscopic measurements illustrate the existence of the Förster resonance and underscore the state-selectivity of the technique. With an imaging exposure time as short as 3 ms, we successfully resolve linear chains of Rydberg superatoms excited in a one-dimensional configuration. The extracted second-order correlation shows strong anti-bunching due to excitation blockade, and a Fourier analysis reveals the long-range order in the chains of Rydberg superatoms. This imaging technique, with minimal destruction, will be of great interest for leveraging ensemble-encoded qubits in quantum computation and quantum simulation applications.
