Physics
Rydberg Atoms Jump in Bunches
Thomas Pohl
Abstract
We study an open quantum system of atoms with a long-range Rydberg interaction, laser driving, and spontaneous emission.Over time, the system occasionally jumps between a state of low Rydberg population and a state of high Rydberg population.The jumps are inherently collective, and in fact, exist only for a large number of atoms.We explain how entanglement and quantum measurement enable the jumps, which are otherwise classically forbidden.