微波调制的里德堡原子集体量子跳跃

对于一个三能级原子体系,原子的两个基态能级通过微波耦合起来,其中一个基态能级可被激发到里德堡态,从而可观察量子跳跃现象.本文采用量子轨线方法研究了微波调制的里德堡原子集体量子跳跃.研究结果表明,微波耦合基态能级可以提高光子关联,增强光子聚束效应,即使较少的原子中也可以观察到系统在高里德堡占据数态和低里德堡占据数态之间的切换.这一结果为将来进一步研究里德堡自旋晶格中的多体动力学提供了新思路.     

利用平均场法计算里德堡原子的 偶极阻塞效应

利用平均场法计算了里德堡原子的偶极相互作用,分析了主量子数、拉比频率以及原子密度等对偶极阻塞效应的影响。随着主量子数以及原子密度的增大,原子间的相互作用增强,里德堡原子的偶极阻塞效应越明显;激光功率的增加,能提高里德堡原子的激发几率,但激发几率会趋于饱和,此时里德堡原子间的偶极阻塞效应最为显著。里德堡原子的偶极阻塞效应广泛应用于量子信息等领域。     

Two-dimensional Rydberg gases and the quantum hard-squares model

We study a two-dimensional lattice gas of atoms that are photoexcited to Rydberg states in which they interact via the van?der?Waals interaction. We explore the regime of dominant nearest-neighbor interaction where this system is intimately connected with a quantum version of Baxter's hard-squares model. We show that the strongly correlated ground state of the Rydberg gas can be analytically described by a projected entangled pair state that constitutes the ground state of the quantum hard-squares model. This correspondence allows us to identify a phase boundary where the Rydberg gas undergoes a transition from a disordered (liquid) phase to an ordered (solid) phase.     

Quantum state swap for two trapped Rydberg atoms

The quantum swap gate is one of the most useful gates for quantum computation. Two-qubit entanglement and a controlled-NOT quantum gate in a neutral Rydberg atom system have been achieved in recent experiments. It is therefore very interesting to propose a scheme here for swapping a quantum state between two trapped neutral atoms via the Rydberg blockade mechanism. The atoms interact with a sequence of laser pulses without individual addressing. The errors of the swap gate due to imprecision of pulse length, finite Rydberg interaction, and atomic spontaneous emission are discussed.     

Quantum computing with collective ensembles of multilevel systems

We propose a new physical approach for encoding and processing of quantum information in ensembles of multilevel quantum systems, where the different bits are not carried by individual particles but associated with the collective population of different internal levels. One- and two-bit gates are implemented by collective internal state transitions taking place in the presence of an excitation blockade mechanism, which restricts the population of each internal state to the values zero and unity. Quantum computers with 10-20 bits can be built via this scheme in single trapped clouds of ground state atoms subject to the Rydberg excitation blockade mechanism, and the linear dependence between register size and the number of internal quantum states in atoms offers realistic means to reach larger registers.     

铯原子nP_(3/2)(n=70—94)里德伯态的紫外单光子激发及量子亏损测量

基于成熟的光纤激光器、光纤放大器及高效激光频率转换技术,我们在实验中研制了一套瓦级输出的窄线宽连续波单频可调谐318.6 nm紫外激光系统,并在室温铯原子气室中实现了6S_(1/2)—nP_(3/2)(n=70—94)单光子跃迁里德伯激发.借助由铯原子6S_(1/2)(F=4)基态、6P_(3/2)(F′=5)激发态和nP_(3/2)(n=70—94)里德伯态构成的V型三能级系统,通过频率锁定于铯原子6S_(1/2)(F=4)—6P_(3/2)(F′=5)超精细跃迁的852.3 nm探测光束的吸收减弱信号获得了里德伯态的信息,并利用高精度波长计测量了铯原子nP_(3/2)(n=70—94)里德伯态的量子亏损值.经过与理论计算值的变化趋势进行对比,我们认为由于原子气室的里德伯屏蔽效应并不能完全屏蔽外部直流电场,铯原子气室内存在残余的直流电场,影响了对里德伯态的量子亏损值的实验测量.利用残余直流电场的Stark效应理论模型及其与有效主量子数n*的依赖关系,对铯原子里德伯态的量子亏损实验测量值进行了修正.修正后的铯原子nP_(3/2)(n=70—94)态量子亏损测量值为3.5591±0.0007,与理论计算值相吻合.     

Transfer of entangled state, entanglement swapping and quantum information processing via the Rydberg blockade

We provide a scheme with which the transfer of the entangled state and the entanglement swapping can be realized in a system of neutral atoms via the Rydberg blockade. Our idea can be extended to teleport an unknown atomic state. According to the latest theoretical research of the Rydberg excitation and experimental reports of the Rydberg blockade effect in quantum information processing, we discuss the experimental feasibility of our scheme.     

太赫兹场中里德堡铷原子的相干操控

采用含时多态展开方法研究了太赫兹场中里德堡铷原子布居数迁移的动力学过程,计算了一个太赫兹脉冲序列与三能级里德堡铷原子系统相互作用后的布居数分布,以及多脉冲序列对多量子态里德堡铷原子系统的相干操控,给出了同一主量子数n中不同角量子数l态布居数的含时演化过程.结果表明:通过优化太赫兹脉冲序列参数,铷原子布居数可由初态被抽运到较高的目标态,在太赫兹频率范围实现里德堡原子的操纵与控制.     

太赫兹场中里德堡铷原子的相干操控

采用含时多态展开方法研究了太赫兹场中里德堡铷原子布居数迁移的动力学过程,计算了一个太赫兹脉冲序列与三能级里德堡铷原子系统相互作用后的布居数分布,以及多脉冲序列对多量子态里德堡铷原子系统的相干操控,给出了同一主量子数n中不同角量子数l态布居数的含时演化过程.结果表明:通过优化太赫兹脉冲序列参数,铷原子布居数可由初态被抽运到较高的目标态,在太赫兹频率范围实现里德堡原子的操纵与控制.     

调制激光场中Rydberg原子的电磁感应透明

本文主要研究了调制探测激光场中铯Rydberg 原子阶梯型三能级系统的电磁感应透明(EIT) 效应. 铯原子基态6S_1/2, 第一激发态6P_3/2 和Rydberg 态形成阶梯型三能级系统, 探测光作用于6S_1/2 (F = 4)→6P_3/2(F' = 5) 的跃迁, 耦合光在Rydberg 跃迁线6P_3/2→49S_1/2 附近扫描, 形成Rydberg 原子EIT. 当对探测光频率施加一个几kHz 的调制时, 调制解调后的EIT 信号分裂为两个峰, 双峰间距与调制频率无关,而与调制幅度导致的失谐量大小(频率调制幅度) 成正比, 双峰间隔的一半等于探测光频率调制幅度的λ_p/λ_c = 1.67 倍. 实验结果与理论计算相一致. 本文的研究结果可应用于激光线型和频率抖动的实时监测.     

Implementation of quantum phase gate between two atoms via Rydberg antiblockade and adiabatic passage

Combining adiabatic passage and Rydberg antiblockade, we propose a scheme to implement a two-qubit phase gate between two Rydberg atoms. Detuning parameters between frequencies of atomic transitions and those of the corresponding driving lasers are carefully chosen to offset the blockade effect of two Rydberg atoms, so that an effective Hamiltonian,representing a single-photon detuning L-type three-level system and concluding the quantum state of two Rydberg atoms excited simultaneously, is obtained. The adiabatic-passage technique, based on the effective Hamiltonian, is adopted to implement a two-atom phase gate by using two time-dependent Rabi frequencies. Numerical simulations indicate that a high-fidelity two-qubit p-phase gate is constructed and its operation time does not have to be controlled accurately. Besides,owing to the long coherence time of the Rydberg state, the phase gate is robust against atomic spontaneous emission.     

Excitation of Rydberg states of atoms and diatomic molecules by short laser impulses

Excitation of multilevel Rydberg states (atoms and diatomic molecules) is studied under an intense time-periodic perturbation that is instantaneously turned on and off. For a one-quantum excitation from a lower lying state, general expressions for the Laplace images of the population amplitudes of Rydberg states are obtained with regard to their decay characteristics. It is shown that the problem considered is reduced to the determination of the positions and widths of the energy levels of a quantum system in the field of monochromatic laser radiation of the same frequency and intensity as that in a pulse mode. To determine these quantities, an integral formulation is proposed for the eigenvalue problem for energies that is relatively simply solved with regard to the effect of the ionic core and its complex vibration-rotation structure on diatomic molecules. The specific features of the excitation of Rydberg states and the behavior of Rydberg wave packets are studied depending on the intensity and duration of laser radiation. A quantum phenomenon of rotational orientation of electron-excited diatomic molecules is considered.     

Coherent excitation of Rydberg atoms in an ultracold gas

We demonstrate two schemes for the coherent excitation of Rydberg atoms in an ultracold gas of rubidium atoms employing the three-level ladder system 5S_1/2-5P_3/2-n?_j. In the first approach rapid adiabatic passage with pulsed laser fields yields Rydberg excitation probabilities of 90% in the center of the laser focus. In a second experiment two-photon Rydberg excitation with continuous-wave fields is applied which results in Rabi oscillations between the ground and Rydberg state. The experiments represent a prerequisite for the control of interactions in ultracold Rydberg gases and the application of ultracold Rydberg gases for quantum information processing.     

Liquid ground state, gap, and excited states of a strongly correlated spin chain

We present an exact solution of an experimentally realizable and strongly interacting one-dimensional spin system which is a limiting case of a quantum Ising model with long range interaction in a transverse and longitudinal field. Pronounced quantum fluctuations lead to a strongly correlated liquid ground state. For open boundary conditions the ground state manifold consists of four degenerate sectors whose quantum numbers are determined by the orientation of the edge spins. Explicit expressions for the entanglement properties, the exact excitation gap, as well as the exact wave functions for a couple of excited states are analytically derived and discussed. We outline how this system can be experimentally realized in a lattice gas of Rydberg atoms.     

Efficient production of Rydberg positronium

We demonstrate experimentally the production of Rydberg positronium (Ps) atoms in a two-step process, comprising incoherent laser excitation, first to the 2(3)P state and then to states with principal quantum numbers ranging from 10 to 25. We find that excitation of 2(3)P atoms to Rydberg levels occurs very efficiently (~90%) and that the ~25% overall efficiency of the production of Rydberg atoms is determined almost entirely by the spectral overlap of the primary excitation laser and the Doppler broadened width of the 1 (3)S-2(3)P transition. The observed efficiency of Rydberg Ps production can be explained if stimulated emission back to the 2P states is suppressed, for example, by intermixing of the Rydberg state Stark sublevels. The efficient production of long-lived Rydberg Ps in a high magnetic field may make it possible to perform direct measurements of the gravitational free fall of Ps.     

Asymptotic Entanglement Sudden Death in Two Atoms with Dipole–Dipole and Ising Interactions Coupled to a Radiation Field at Non-Zero Detuning

We investigate the time evolution and asymptotic behavior of a system of two two-level atoms (qubits) interacting off-resonance with a single mode radiation field. The two atoms are coupled to each other through dipole–dipole as well as Ising interactions. An exact analytic solution for the system dynamics that spans the entire phase space is provided. We focus on initial states that cause the system to evolve to entanglement sudden death (ESD) between the two atoms. We find that combining the Ising and dipole–dipole interactions is very powerful in controlling the entanglement dynamics and ESD compared with either one of them separately. Their effects on eliminating ESD may add up constructively or destructively depending on the type of Ising interaction (Ferromagnetic or anti-Ferromagnetic), the detuning parameter value, and the initial state of the system. The asymptotic behavior of the ESD is found to depend substantially on the initial state of the system, where ESD can be entirely eliminated by tuning the system parameters except in the case of an initial correlated Bell state. Interestingly, the entanglement, atomic population and quantum correlation between the two atoms and the field synchronize and reach asymptotically quasi-steady dynamic states. Each one of them ends up as a continuous irregular oscillation, where the collapse periods vanish, with a limited amplitude and an approximately constant mean value that depend on the initial state and the system parameters choice. This indicates an asymptotic continuous exchange of energy (and strong quantum correlation) between the atoms and the field takes place, accompanied by diminished ESD for these chosen setups of the system. This system can be realized in spin states of quantum dots or Rydberg atoms in optical cavities, and superconducting or hybrid qubits in linear resonators.     

Two-electron excitation of an interacting cold Rydberg gas

We report the creation of an interacting cold Rydberg gas of strontium atoms. We show that the excitation spectrum of the inner valence electron is sensitive to the interactions in the Rydberg gas, even though they are mediated by the outer Rydberg electron. By studying the evolution of this spectrum we observe density-dependent population transfer to a state of higher angular momentum l. We determine the fraction of Rydberg atoms transferred, and identify the dominant transfer mechanism to be l-changing electron-Rydberg collisions associated with the formation of a cold plasma.     

Simultaneous position and state measurement of Rydberg atoms

We present a technique for state-selective position detection of cold Rydberg atoms. Ground state Rb atoms in a magneto-optical trap are excited to a Rydberg state and are subsequently ionized with a tailored electric field pulse. This pulse selectively ionizes only atoms in e.g. the 54d state and not in the 53d state. The released electrons are detected after a slow flight towards a micro channel plate. From the time of flight of the electrons the position of the atoms is deduced. The state selectivity is about 20:1 when comparing 54d with 53d and the one-dimensional position resolution ranges from 6 to 40 μm over a range of 300 μm. This state selectivity and position resolution are sufficient to allow for the observation of coherent quantum excitation transport.     

A concise review of Rydberg atom based quantum computation and quantum simulation

Quantum information processing based on Rydberg atoms emerged as a promising direction two decades ago.Recent experimental and theoretical progresses have shined exciting light on this avenue.In this concise review,we will briefly introduce the basics of Rydberg atoms and their recent applications in associated areas of neutral atom quantum computation and simulation.We shall also include related discussions on quantum optics with Rydberg atomic ensembles,which are increasingly used to explore quantum computation and quantum simulation with photons.     

Scaled-energy spectroscopy of a ｜M｜= 1 Rydberg barium atom in an electric field

We observe strong energy-dependent quantum defects in the scaled-energy Stark spectra for |M| = 1 Rydberg states of barium atoms at three scaled energies: ε = 2.000,ε = 2.500 and ε = 3.000.In an attempt to explain the observations,theoretical calculations of closed orbit theory based on a model potential including core effect are performed for non-hydrogenic atoms.While such a potential has been uniformly successful for alkali atoms with a single valence electron,it fails to match experimental results for barium atoms in the 6snp Rydberg states with two valence electrons.Our study points out that this discrepancy is due to the strong perturbation from the 5d8p state,which voids the simple approximation for constant quantum defects of principle quantum number n.