Abstract
We report on a controllable, hybrid quantum system consisting of cold Rydberg atoms and an optical nanofiber interface. Using a two-photon ladder-type excitation in $^{87}$Rb, we demonstrate both coherent and incoherent Rydberg excitation at submicron distances from the nanofiber surface. The 780 nm photon, near resonant to the $5S \rightarrow 5P$ transition, is mediated by the cooling laser, while the 482 nm light, near resonant to the $5P \rightarrow 29D$ transition, is mediated by the guided mode of the nanofiber. The population loss rate of the cold atom ensemble is used to measure the Rydberg population rate. A theoretical model is developed to interpret the results and link the population rate to the experimentally measured, effective Rabi frequency of the process. This work makes headway in the study of atom-surface interactions at submicron scales and the use of cold Rydberg atoms for all-fibered quantum networks and quantum simulations.
Highlights
We report on a controllable, hybrid quantum system consisting of cold Rydberg atoms and an optical nanofiber interface
Using a two-photon ladder-type excitation in 87Rb, we demonstrate both coherent and incoherent Rydberg excitation at submicron distances from the nanofiber surface
Coherent Rydberg excitation has been reported for an atom chip [11], a μm-sized vapor cell [12], a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber [13,14], and has been proposed for a superconducting resonator [15], with each platform having its own advantages and disadvantages
Summary
We report on a controllable, hybrid quantum system consisting of cold Rydberg atoms and an optical nanofiber interface. Those atoms in the evanescent field of the nanofiber can interact with both the 780- and 480-nm light and participate in the two-photon Rydberg excitation.
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