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arXiv:1605.00259 · Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Tailoring Rydberg interactions via Förster resonances: state combinations, hopping and angular dependence

Asaf Paris-Mandoki, Hannes Gorniaczyk, Christoph Tresp, Ivan Mirgorodskiy, Sebastian Hofferberth

Published Jul 22, 2016• 25 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract Förster resonances provide a highly flexible tool to tune both the strength and the angular shape of interactions between two Rydberg atoms. We give a detailed explanation about how Förster resonances can be found by searching through a large range of possible quantum number combinations. We apply our search method to SS , SD and DD pair states of 87 Rb with principal quantum numbers from 30 to 100, taking into account the fine structure splitting of the Rydberg states. We find various strong resonances between atoms with a large difference in principal quantum numbers. We quantify the strength of these resonances by introducing a figure of merit C ˜ 3 which is independent of the magnetic quantum numbers and geometry to classify the resonances by interaction strength. We further predict to what extent excitation exchange is possible on different resonances and point out limitations of the coherent hopping process. Finally, we discuss the angular dependence of the dipole–dipole interaction and its tunability near resonances.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/49/16/164001

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Abstract Förster resonances provide a highly flexible tool to tune both the strength and the angular shape of interactions between two Rydberg atoms. We give a detailed explanation about how Förster resonances can be found by searching through a large range of possible quantum number combinations. We apply our search method to SS , SD and DD pair states of 87 Rb with principal quantum numbers from 30 to 100, taking into account the fine structure splitting of the Rydberg states. We find various strong resonances between atoms with a large difference in principal quantum numbers. We quantify the strength of these resonances by introducing a figure of merit C ˜ 3 which is independent of the magnetic quantum numbers and geometry to classify the resonances by interaction strength. We further predict to what extent excitation exchange is possible on different resonances and point out limitations of the coherent hopping process. Finally, we discuss the angular dependence of the dipole–dipole interaction and its tunability near resonances.
Rydberg atoms are used in a wide range of applications due to their peculiar properties like strong dipolar and van der Waals interactions. The choice of Rydberg state has a huge impact on the strength and angular dependence of the interactions, and so a detailed understanding of the underlying processes and resulting properties of the interactions is therefore key to select the most suitable states for experiments. We study the van der Waals interactions in alkali-metal atoms in detail and highlight the structures which allow an understanding and exploitation of the various interaction properties. A particular theme is the identification of Förster resonances with n 1 ≠ n 2 , which offer interaction potentials with a wide range of properties that make them particularly interesting for experimental applications. A second theme is a focus on the underlying structures that shape the angular dependency and sign of the interactions. This understanding — instead of brute-force calculations — allows for a much simpler and more systematic search for suitable pair states. These insights can be used for the selection of tailored interaction potentials subject to experimental constraints and requirements. We use rubidium as an example species in this work and also provide data for cesium and pair states that are coupled via two- or three-photon transitions, i.e. up to F states, in the Appendix.
We report on experiments exploring Stark-tuned Förster resonances between Rydberg atoms with high resolution in the Förster defect. The individual resonances are expected to exhibit different angular dependencies, opening the possibility to tune not only the interaction strength but also the angular dependence of the pair state potentials by an external electric field. We achieve a high resolution by optical Ramsey interferometry for Rydberg atoms combined with electric field pulses. The resonances are detected by a loss of visibility in the Ramsey fringes due to resonances in the interaction. We present measurements of the density dependence as well as of the coherence time at and close to Förster resonances.
Three-body F\"orster resonances controlled by a dc electric field are of interest for the implementation of three-qubit quantum gates with single atoms in optical traps using their laser excitation into strongly interacting Rydberg states. In our recent theoretical paper [Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz. 168, 14 (2025)], it was found that the proposed earlier three-body F\"orster resonance $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}n{P}_{3/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}n{S}_{1/2}+(n+1){S}_{1/2}+n{P}_{1/2}$ in Rb Rydberg atoms presents a splitting, with one of the split components having weaker dependence of the resonant electric field (and the corresponding dynamic shift) on the distance RRR between the atoms. Here we study this effect in more detail, since this resonance appears as the most suitable for performing experiments on observing coherent oscillations of populations of collective three-body states and implementing three-qubit quantum gates based on them. For a linear spatial configuration of three interacting Rydberg atoms, the physical mechanism of this phenomenon is revealed and analytical formulas are obtained that describe the behavior of split structure of the F\"orster resonance depending on RRR. It is found that the splitting is a measure of the energy of the resonant dipole-dipole exchange interaction with an excitation hopping between neighboring Rydberg states SSS and PPP.
Three-body Förster resonances controlled by a dc electric field are of interest for the implementation of three-qubit quantum gates with single atoms captured in optical traps and laser-excited into strongly interacting Rydberg states. In Ref. [P. Cheinet et al., Quantum Electronics 50(3), 213 (2020)], we proposed and analyzed a new type of three-body Förster resonance 3×nP3/2→nS1/2+(n+1)S1/2+nP1/2{\rm 3}\times nP_{3/2} \to nS_{1/2} +(n+1)S_{1/2} +nP_{1/2}3×nP3/2​→nS1/2​+(n+1)S1/2​+nP1/2​ that can be realized with Rb Rydberg atoms for an arbitrary principal quantum number nnn. Its peculiarity is that the third atom goes into a state with a total angular moment J=1/2J=1/2J=1/2, which has no Stark structure, so two-body Förster resonances are completely absent. In the present work, an extended theoretical study of this three-body Förster resonance is performed for various spatial configurations of three interacting Rb Rydberg atoms and conditions for their experimental implementation are determined. It was found that one of the resonances has a weak dependence of the resonant electric field on the distance between atoms and is therefore most suitable for performing experiments to observe coherent oscillations of populations of collective three-body states and implement three-qubit quantum gates based on them.
Abstract The resonant energy transfer between two close particles, also known as Förster resonance in atomic or biological systems, is usually associated with dipole–dipole interaction. In Rydberg atoms, it is a widely used tool to enhance the interactions between particles. Here, we observe a resonant energy transfer between Rydberg atoms that cannot be attributed to a dipole–dipole interaction, owing to selection rules, and comes instead from an efficient dipole–quadrupole process. We compare the measured probability transfer with a theoretical model including quadrupolar terms and find very good agreement with our measurement. Further studies of those multipolar resonances should probe their dependences on various parameters (quantum numbers, relative orientation of the atoms), and may find some applications in quantum procedures where dipole–dipole resonance cannot be used, for instance where the states of interest have a difference in angular momentum of two.
Achieving a substantial blockade radius is crucial for developing scalable and efficient quantum communication and computation. In this theoretical study, we present the enhancement of the Rydberg blockade radius by utilizing Förster resonance. This phenomenon occurs when the energy difference between two initial Rydberg states closely matches that between the corresponding final Rydberg states, giving rise to a resonant energy transfer process. We employ quantum defect theory to numerically calculate the 87 Rb– 87 Rb Rydberg atomic pair, enabling us to accurately estimate the van der Waals interaction. Our investigation reveals that when the principal quantum numbers of two Rydberg states differ only slightly, the Förster transition is rarely able to achieve a large blockade radius. However, in cases where the principal quantum numbers differ significantly, we substantially improve the Rydberg blockade radius. Most notably, we identify transition channels exhibiting an extensive blockade radius, surpassing 50 μ m. This significant increase in the blockade radius enables larger-scale quantum operations and advances quantum technologies, with broad implications for achieving long-range quantum entanglement and robust quantum processes.