Cooperative Optical Non-Linearity in a Blockaded Rydberg Ensemble

2012
ISBN: 978-3-642-44305-3
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 158 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 271 g

Reihe: Springer Theses

This thesis describes the first demonstration of a cooperative optical non-linearity based on Rydberg excitation. Whereas in conventional non-linear optics the non-linearity arises directly from the interaction between light and matter, in a cooperative process it is mediated by dipole-dipole interactions between light-induced excitations. For excitation to high Rydberg states where the electron is only weakly bound, the dipole-dipole interactions are extremely large and long range, enabling an enormous enhancement of the non-linear effect. Consequently, cooperative non-linear optics using Rydberg excitations opens a new era for quantum optics enabling large single photon non-linearity to be accessible in free space for the first time. The thesis describes the theoretical underpinnings of the non- linear effect, the pioneering experimental results and implications for experiments in the single photon regime.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Pritchard, Jonathan D.

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Physik Quantenphysik Atom- und Molekülphysik
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Elektromagnetismus Quantenoptik, Nichtlineare Optik, Laserphysik
• Technische Wissenschaften Bauingenieurwesen

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Rydberg Atoms.- Rydberg Atom Interactions.- Atom-Light Interactions.- Cooperative Phenomena.- Experiment Setup.- Results.- Photon Blockade.- Progress Towards a Single Blockade Sphere.