Rydberg Atoms Research Articles

Effective nonadiabatic holonomic swap gate with Rydberg atoms using invariant-based reverse engineering

Effective nonadiabatic holonomic swap gate with Rydberg atoms using invariant-based reverse engineering

Weak ergodicity breaking transition in a randomly constrained model

Experiments in Rydberg atoms have recently found unusually slow decay from a small number of special initial states. We investigate the robustness of such long-lived states (LLS) by studying an ensemble of locally constrained random systems with tunable range μ. Upon varying μ, we find a transition between thermal and weakly nonergodic (supporting a finite number of LLS) phases. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the LLS observed in the experiments disappear upon the addition of small perturbations so that the transition reported here is distinct from known ones. We then show that the LLS dynamics explores only part of the accessible Hilbert space, thus corresponding to localization in Hilbert space. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Floquet-Rydberg quantum simulator for confinement in Z2 gauge theories

Recent advances in the field of quantum technologies have opened up the road for the realization of small-scale quantum simulators of lattice gauge theories which, among other goals, aim at improving our understanding on the nonperturbative mechanisms underlying the confinement of quarks. In this work, considering periodically driven arrays of Rydberg atoms in a tweezer ladder geometry, we devise a scalable Floquet scheme for the quantum simulation of the real-time dynamics in a Z2 LGT, in which hardcore bosons/spinless fermions are coupled to dynamical gauge fields. Resorting to an external magnetic field to tune the angular dependence of the Rydberg dipolar interactions, and by a suitable tuning of the driving parameters, we manage to suppress the main gauge-violating terms and show that an observation of gauge-invariant confinement dynamics in the Floquet-Rydberg setup is at reach of current experimental techniques. Depending on the lattice size, we present a thorough numerical test of the validity of this scheme using either exact diagonalization or matrix-product-state algorithms for the periodically modulated real-time dynamics. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computation Using Large Spin-Cat Codes

We construct a fault-tolerant quantum error-correcting protocol based on a qubit encoded in a large spin qudit using a spin-cat code, analogous to the continuous-variable cat encoding. With this, we can correct the dominant error sources, namely processes that can be expressed as error operators that are linear or quadratic in the components of angular momentum. Such codes tailored to dominant error sources can exhibit superior thresholds and lower resource overheads when compared to those designed for unstructured noise models. A key component is the gate that preserves the rank of spherical tensor operators. Categorizing the dominant errors as phase and amplitude errors, we demonstrate how phase errors, analogous to phase-flip errors for qubits, can be effectively corrected. Furthermore, we propose a measurement-free error-correction scheme to address amplitude errors without relying on syndrome measurements. Through an in-depth analysis of logical gate errors, we establish that the fault-tolerant threshold for error correction in the spin-cat encoding surpasses that of standard qubit-based encodings. We consider a specific implementation based on neutral-atom quantum computing, with qudits encoded in the nuclear spin of 87Sr, and show how to generate the universal gate set, including the rank-preserving gate, using quantum control and the Rydberg blockade. These findings pave the way for encoding a qubit in a large spin with the potential to achieve fault tolerance, high threshold, and reduced resource overhead in quantum information processing. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Gain measurement of microwave antenna with heterodyne bichromatic excitation in Rydberg atoms.

We propose a scheme for gain measurement of microwave (MW) antenna with heterodyne bichromatic excitation in Rydberg atoms via electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). The Rydberg-EIT atoms serve as a frequency mixer with a strong locally oscillating MW field and a weak signal field. A large dispersion appears in the EIT windows due to the interference of two sub-EIT systems, which much narrows the transmission spectrum. The locally oscillating MW field could enhance the atomic response to the weak MW signals. The simulation results show that the gain measurement of MW antenna remains good accuracy even for weak MW fields and the minimum detectable MW field strength is about 1/12 of that of common EIT scheme. Other influences on the gain measurement are also investigated.

Spacetime-localized response in quantum critical spin systems: Insights from holography

According to the AdS/CFT correspondence, certain quantum many-body systems in d-dimensions are equivalent to gravitational theories in (d+1)-dimensional asymptotically anti–de Sitter (AdS) spacetimes. When a massless particle is sent from the AdS boundary to the bulk curved spacetime, it reaches another point of the boundary after a time lag. In the dual quantum system, it should appear as if quasiparticles have been transferred between two separated points. We theoretically demonstrate that this phenomenon, which we call “spacetime-localized response”, is actually observed in the dynamics of the one-dimensional transverse-field Ising model near the quantum critical point. This result suggests that, if we can realize a holographic spin system in a laboratory, the experimental probing of the emergent extra dimension is possible by applying a designed stimulus to a quantum many-body system, which is holographically equivalent to sending a massless particle through the higher-dimensional curved bulk geometry. We also discuss possible experimental realizations using Rydberg atoms in an optical tweezers array. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Rydberg-atom experiment for the integer factorization problem

The task of factoring integers poses a significant challenge in modern cryptography, and quantum computing holds the potential to efficiently address this problem compared to classical algorithms. Thus, it is crucial to develop quantum computing algorithms to address this problem. This study introduces a quantum approach that utilizes Rydberg atoms to tackle the factorization problem. Experimental demonstrations are conducted for the factorization of small composite numbers such as 6=2×3, 15=3×5, and 35=5×7. This approach involves employing Rydberg-atom graphs to algorithmically program binary multiplication tables, yielding many-body ground states that represent superpositions of factoring solutions. Subsequently, these states are probed using quantum adiabatic computing. Limitations of this method are discussed, specifically addressing the scalability of current Rydberg quantum computing for the intricate computational problem. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Complexity function of jammed configurations of Rydberg atoms

Complexity function of jammed configurations of Rydberg atoms

High-efficiency realization of the super-robust Rydberg Deutsch gate

Quantum logic gates are the essential components of quantum computation and have broad practical applications, especially for the multiple-qubit logic gates. Compared with appliying a series of single- and two-qubit gates, constrcuting quantum computation with multiple-qubit logic gates can be more efficient and high-fidelity. As a three-qubit logic gate, Deutsch gate enables the realization of any feasible quantum computations. Based on neutral atoms, we present a scheme of super-robust Deutsch gate via optimal control technique. Utilizing the Rydberg blockade effect of neutral atoms, we design an implementable D(β) based on the three-step program. One of the notable advantages of this function is that β can be achieved arbitrarily between 0 and π with the operation of target atom. In addition, we give an analytical solution agreed very well with numerical simulations for the residual blocking effect between next-neighbor atoms that affects the performance quality of Deutsch gate. The fidelity of our proposed scheme is demonstrated by numerical simulation of the master equation based on the full Hamiltonian, and the robustness of our scheme with control errors is also illustrated. Our proposal offers an alternative promising scheme for fault-tolerant quantum computation. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Fast simulation for interacting four-level Rydberg atoms: electromagnetically induced transparency and Autler-Townes splitting

Quantum sensing using Rydberg atoms is an emerging technology for precise measurement of electric fields. However, most existing computational methods are all based on a single-particle model and neglect Rydberg-Rydberg interaction between atoms. In this study, we introduce the interaction term into the conventional four-level optical Bloch equations. By incorporating fast iterations and solving for the steady-state solution efficiently, we avoid the computation of a massive 4 N × 4 N dimensional matrix. Additionally, we apply the Doppler frequency shift to each atom used in the calculation, eliminating the requirement for an additional Doppler iteration. These schemes allow for the calculation of the interaction between 7000 atoms around one minute. Based on the many-body model, we investigate the Rydberg-Rydberg interaction of Rydberg atoms under different atomic densities. Furthermore, we compare our results with the literature data of a three-level system and the experimental results of our own four-level system. The results demonstrate the validity of our model, with an effective error of 4.59% compared to the experimental data. Finally, we discover that the many-body model better predicts the linear range for measuring electric fields than the single-particle model, making it highly applicable in precise electric field measurements.

Rydberg Platform for Nonergodic Chiral Quantum Dynamics.

We propose a mechanism for engineering chiral interactions in Rydberg atoms via a directional antiblockade condition, where an atom can change its state only if an atom to its right (or left) is excited. The scalability of our scheme enables us to explore the many-body dynamics of kinetically constrained models with unidirectional character. We observe nonergodic behavior via either scars, confinement, or localization, upon simply tuning the strength of two driving fields acting on the atoms. We discuss how our mechanism persists in the presence of classical noise and how the degree of chirality in the interactions can be tuned, opening towards the frontier of directional, strongly correlated, quantum mechanics using neutral atoms arrays.

Perspective on new implementations of atomtronic circuits

In this article, we provide perspectives for atomtronics circuits on quantum technology platforms beyond simple bosonic or fermionic cold atom matter-wave currents. Specifically, we consider (i) matter-wave schemes with multi-component quantum fluids; (ii) networks of Rydberg atoms that provide a radically new concept of atomtronics circuits in which the flow, rather than in terms of matter, occurs through excitations; (iii) hybrid matterwave circuits—a combination of ultracold atomtronic circuits with other quantum platforms that can lead to circuits beyond the standard solutions and provide new schemes for integrated matter-wave networks. We also sketch how driving these systems can open new pathways for atomtronics.

Radio frequency electric field-enhanced sensing based on the Rydberg atom-based superheterodyne receiver.

We present enhanced sensing of a radio frequency (RF) electric field (E-field) by the combined polarizability of Rydberg atoms and the optimized local oscillator (LO) field of a superheterodyne receiver. Our modified theoretical model reveals the dependencies of the sensitivity of E-field amplitude measurement on the polarizability of Rydberg states and the strength of the LO field. The enhanced sensitivities of the megahertz (MHz) E-field are demonstrated at the optimal LO field for three different Rydberg states ${\rm 43D}_{5/2}$, ${\rm 60S}_{1/2}$, and ${\rm 90S}_{1/2}$. The sensitivity of 63 MHz for the ${\rm 90S}_{1/2}$ state reaches 9.6 $\times 10^{-5}\rm \,V/m/\sqrt {Hz}$, which is approximately an order of magnitude higher than those already published. This result closely approaches the sensitivity limit of a 1 cm passive dipole antenna without using an impedance matching network. This atomic sensor based on the Rydberg Stark effect with heterodyne technique is expected to boost an alternative solution to electric dipole antennas.

Quantum Slush State in Rydberg Atom Arrays.

In this Letter, we propose an exotic quantum state that does not order at zero temperature in a Rydberg atom array with antiblockade mechanism. By performing an unbiased large-scale quantum MonteCarlo simulation, we investigate a minimal model with facilitated excitation in a disorder-free system. At zero temperature, this model exhibits a heterogeneous structure of liquid and glass mixture. This state, dubbed quantum slush state, features a quasi-long-range order with an algebraic decay for its correlation function, and is different from most well-established quantum phases of matter.

Accurate measurement of the frequency offset of the laser based on electromagnetically induced transparency

We propose a method using electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) to measure the frequency offset of the laser relative to a cavity’s resonance frequency, thereby reducing the laser detuning when preparing Rydberg atoms. Laser reflection by the vapor cell enables observation of two EIT peaks corresponding to the co-propagating and counter-propagating beams, and the peaks’ position is related to laser detuning, allowing us to estimate the frequency offset of the probe and coupling lasers. The method reduces the measurement uncertainty compared to directly observing saturated absorption spectroscopy (SAS) and EIT, making it suitable for applications that require strict control over laser detuning.

On the structure factor of jammed particle configurations on the one-dimensional lattice

A broad class of blocked or jammed configurations of particles on the one-dimensional lattice can be characterized in terms of local rules involving only the lengths of clusters of particles (occupied sites) and of holes (empty sites). Examples of physical relevance include the metastable states reached by the zero-temperature dynamics of kinetically constrained spin chains, the attractors of totally irreversible processes such as random sequential adsorption, and arrays of Rydberg atoms in the blockade regime. The configurational entropy of ensembles of such blocked configurations has been investigated recently by means of an approach inspired from the theory of stochastic renewal processes. This approach provides a valuable alternative to the more traditional transfer-matrix formalism. We show that the renewal approach is also an efficient tool to investigate a range of observables in uniform ensembles of blocked configurations, besides their configurational entropy. The main emphasis is on their structure factor and correlation function.

Effects of higher-order Casimir-Polder interactions on Rydberg atom spectroscopy

In the extreme near field, when the spatial extension of the atomic wavefunction is no longer negligible compared to the atom-surface distance, the dipole approximation is no longer sufficient to describe Casimir-Polder interactions. Here we calculate the higher-order, quadrupole and octupole, contributions to Casimir-Polder energy shifts of Rydberg atoms close to a dielectric surface. We subsequently investigate the effects of these higher-order terms in thin-cell and selective reflection spectroscopy. Beyond its fundamental interest, this regime of extremely small atom surface separations is relevant for quantum technology applications with Rydberg or surface-bound atoms interfacing with photonic platforms. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Variational manifolds for ground states and scarred dynamics of blockade-constrained spin models on two- and three-dimensional lattices

We introduce a variational manifold of simple tensor network states for the study of a family of constrained models that describe spin-12 systems as realized by Rydberg atom arrays. Our manifold permits analytical calculation via perturbative expansion of one- and two-point functions in arbitrary spatial dimensions and allows for efficient computation of the matrix elements required for variational energy minimization and variational time evolution in up to three dimensions. We apply this framework to the PXP model on the hypercubic lattice in one, two, and three dimensions and show that, in each case, it exhibits quantum phase transitions breaking the sublattice symmetry in equilibrium, and hosts quantum many-body scars out of equilibrium. We demonstrate that our variational ansatz qualitatively captures all these phenomena and predicts key quantities with an accuracy that increases with the dimensionality of the lattice, and conclude that our method can be interpreted as a generalization of mean-field theory to constrained spin models. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Direct Laser Cooling of Rydberg Atoms with an Isolated-Core Transition.

We propose a scheme to directly laser cool Rydberg atoms by laser cooling the residual ion core within the Rydberg-electron orbit. The scheme is detailed for alkaline-earth-metal Rydberg atoms, whose ions can be easily laser cooled. We demonstrate that a closed optical cooling cycle can be found despite the perturbations caused by the Rydberg electron and that this cycle can be driven over more than 100 μs to achieve laser cooling. The cooling dynamics with and without the presence of magnetic fields are discussed in detail.

Benchmarking discrete truncated Wigner approximation and neural network quantum states with the exact dynamics in a Rydberg atomic chain

We benchmark the discrete truncated Wigner approximation (DTWA) and Neural quantum states (NQS) based on restricted Boltzmann-like machines with the exact excitation and correlation dynamics in a chain of ten Rydberg atoms. The initial state is where all atoms are in their electronic ground state. We characterize the excitation dynamics using the maximum and time-averaged number of Rydberg excitations. DTWA results are different from the exact dynamics for large Rydberg-Rydberg interactions. In contrast, by increasing the number of hidden spins, the NQS can be improved but still limited to short-time dynamics. Interestingly, irrespective of interaction strengths, the time-averaged number of excitations obtained using NQS is in excellent agreement with the exact results. Concerning the calculation of quantum correlations, for instance, second-order bipartite and average two-site Rényi entropies, NQS looks more promising. Finally, we discuss the existence of a power law scaling for the initial growth of average two-site Rényi entropy.