Quantum Optics in Rydberg Entangled Atomic Arrays

利用量子力学现象来处理、存储和安全传输信息的新技术正在开发中，这是传统设备无法实现的。量子技术性能的一个关键因素是纠缠的存在，纠缠可以被认为是空间分离物体之间的一种连接，而这种连接在日常的经典世界中并不存在。该项目将通过加深对原子之间以及原子与光之间纠缠的理解，推动科学的进步。更好地理解量子纠缠以及如何精确地制备原子与光的纠缠，将促进有用的量子信息处理技术的发展。此外，NSF奖项支持的研究和教育活动将有助于量子技术未来商业化的劳动力培训。本课题将研究多原子系综以及原子系综与光场之间的纠缠保真度。由高激发里德伯态介导的远程原子相互作用将用于创建多原子系综之间以及系综与光之间的确定性纠缠。将比较一维和二维系综以及空间无序和有序系综中里德堡态介导纠缠的保真度。比较将阐明在复杂的短程相互作用下Rydberg阻断的鲁棒性。由于偶极相互作用而表现出集体共振的空间有序系综将与强、远程里德伯相互作用相结合，产生具有可控方向性的单光子波包，这将使空间分离的原子阵列纠缠成为可能。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

New technologies are being developed that use quantum mechanical phenomena to process, store, and securely transmit information in ways that are not possible with classical devices. A key ingredient in the performance of quantum technologies is the presence of entanglement, which can be thought of as a kind of connection between spatially separated objects that does not exist in the everyday classical world. This project will advance the progress of science by deepening understanding of entanglement between atoms and between atoms and light. Gaining a better understanding of entanglement and how to accurately prepare entanglement of atoms and light will promote the development of useful quantum information processing technologies. In addition research and education activities supported by this NSF award will contribute to workforce training for future commercialization of quantum technologies.The research project will study the fidelity of entanglement prepared in multi-atom ensembles as well as between atomic ensembles and optical fields. Long range atomic interactions mediated by highly excited Rydberg states will be used to create deterministic entanglement between multi-atom ensembles and between ensembles and light. The fidelity of Rydberg state mediated entanglement will be compared in 1D and 2D ensembles and in spatially disordered and ordered ensembles. The comparison will elucidate the robustness of Rydberg blockade in the presence of complex short range interactions. Spatially ordered ensembles that exhibit collective resonances due to dipolar interactions will be combined with strong, long range Rydberg interactions to generate single photon wavepackets with controlled directionality that will enable entanglement of spatially separated atomic arrays.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.