Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

physica status solidi (b)

Dynamically Steered Maser Action of Rydberg Excitons in Cu2O

David Ziemkiewicz, Sylwia Zielińska‐Raczyńska

Published Jan 7, 2019• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The Rydberg excitons in Cu2O are a promising candidate for realization of solid state maser. The highly excited states, unique to this crystal, provide the necessary energy level transitions for emission of microwaves. The achievement of population inversion is facilitated by exceptionally long lifetimes of excitons and their strong coupling to external field. Moreover, due to the strong Stark shift of excitonic energy levels, one can tune the emission wavelength on demand.

DOI
10.1002/pssb.201800503

Related papers

Tunable Rydberg excitons maser

David Ziemkiewicz, Sylwia Zielińska‐Raczyńska

We propose a solid state maser based on Cu2O, where ensemble of highly excited Rydberg exciton states serves as a gain medium. We show that the system is highly tunable with external electric field, allowing for a wide range of emission frequencies. Numerical simulations of system dynamics are performed to optimize the conditions for efficient masing and estimate the emission power.

arXiv:1806.07920•May 31, 2018•0 citations

Solid-state pulsed microwave emitter based on Rydberg excitons

David Ziemkiewicz, Sylwia Zielińska‐Raczyńska

O could be used as a gain medium in a solid-state maser. By taking advantage of radiative microwave transitions between highly excited Rydberg states, one can achieve population inversion and masing in a wide range of wavelengths. In the pulsed emission regime, the considered excitonic system is characterized by intricate and rich dynamics, which are investigated numerically, taking into account several key features of the medium, such as strong Stark shift of energy levels and the presence of the Rydberg blockade effect.

Optics Express•Jun 3, 2019•15 citations

Rydberg Exciton Dynamics in the Blockade Regime of Cu2O

Gillian E. Minarik, Eric A. Arsenault, Vinicius da Silveira Lanza Avelar +2 more

Hosting giant Rydberg excitons with principal quantum numbers up to n = 30, cuprous oxide (Cu2O) provides a rare solid-state setting for exploring Rydberg physics, as exemplified by the blockade effect. Here we access the strongly interaction regime at high excitation densities (10^14-10^16/cm^3) and resolve the corresponding blockade dynamics for n = 2-7 using time-resolved spectroscopy. We find that Rydberg blockades are primarily governed by resonant dipolar interactions and that exciton recombination is coupled to the blockade itself. These findings demonstrate the potential for manipulating Rydberg exctions in the strongly interacting blockade regime in a solid state system.

arXiv:2508.05806•Aug 7, 2025•0 citations

Giant Rydberg excitons in Cu2O probed by photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy

Marijn A. M. Versteegh, Stephan Steinhauer, Josip Bajo +7 more

Rydberg excitons are, with their ultrastrong mutual interactions, giant optical nonlinearities, and very high sensitivity to external fields, promising for applications in quantum sensing and nonlinear optics at the single-photon level. To design quantum applications it is necessary to know how Rydberg excitons and other excited states relax to lower-lying exciton states. Here, we present photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy as a method to probe transition probabilities from various excitonic states in cuprous oxide. We show giant Rydberg excitons at $T=38$ mK with principal quantum numbers up to $n=30$, corresponding to a calculated diameter of $3\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$.

arXiv:2105.07942•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Dec 20, 2021•44 citations

Proposal of tunable Rydberg exciton maser

David Ziemkiewicz, Sylwia Zielińska‐Raczyńska

O, where ensemble of highly excited Rydberg exciton states serves as a gain medium. We show that the system is highly tunable with an external electric field, allowing for a wide range of emission frequencies within terahertz range. Numerical simulations of the system dynamics are performed to optimize the conditions for efficient masing and estimate the emission power.

Optics Letters•Jul 30, 2018•15 citations

Giant microwave–optical Kerr nonlinearity via Rydberg excitons in cuprous oxide

Jon D. Pritchett, Liam A. P. Gallagher, Alistair Brewin +5 more

Microwave–optical conversion is key to future networks of quantum devices, such as those based on superconducting technology. Conversion at the single quantum level requires strong nonlinearity, high bandwidth, and compatibility with a millikelvin environment. A large nonlinearity is observed in Rydberg atoms, but combining atomic gases with dilution refrigerators is technically challenging. Here, we demonstrate a strong microwave–optical nonlinearity in a cryogenic, solid-state system by exploiting Rydberg states of excitons in Cu2O. We measure a microwave–optical cross-Kerr coefficient of B0 = 0.022 ± 0.008 m V−2 at 4 K, which is several orders of magnitude larger than other solid-state systems. The results are in quantitative agreement with a nonlinear susceptibility model based on the giant microwave dipole moment between nearby excitonic states. Our results highlight the potential of Rydberg excitons for nonlinear optics and form the basis for a microwave–optical frequency converter based on Cu2O.

arXiv:2312.00757•APL Photonics•Mar 1, 2024•9 citations
The Rydberg excitons in Cu2O are a promising candidate for realization of solid state maser. The highly excited states, unique to this crystal, provide the necessary energy level transitions for emission of microwaves. The achievement of population inversion is facilitated by exceptionally long lifetimes of excitons and their strong coupling to external field. Moreover, due to the strong Stark shift of excitonic energy levels, one can tune the emission wavelength on demand.
O could be used as a gain medium in a solid-state maser. By taking advantage of radiative microwave transitions between highly excited Rydberg states, one can achieve population inversion and masing in a wide range of wavelengths. In the pulsed emission regime, the considered excitonic system is characterized by intricate and rich dynamics, which are investigated numerically, taking into account several key features of the medium, such as strong Stark shift of energy levels and the presence of the Rydberg blockade effect.
Hosting giant Rydberg excitons with principal quantum numbers up to n = 30, cuprous oxide (Cu2O) provides a rare solid-state setting for exploring Rydberg physics, as exemplified by the blockade effect. Here we access the strongly interaction regime at high excitation densities (10^14-10^16/cm^3) and resolve the corresponding blockade dynamics for n = 2-7 using time-resolved spectroscopy. We find that Rydberg blockades are primarily governed by resonant dipolar interactions and that exciton recombination is coupled to the blockade itself. These findings demonstrate the potential for manipulating Rydberg exctions in the strongly interacting blockade regime in a solid state system.
Rydberg excitons are, with their ultrastrong mutual interactions, giant optical nonlinearities, and very high sensitivity to external fields, promising for applications in quantum sensing and nonlinear optics at the single-photon level. To design quantum applications it is necessary to know how Rydberg excitons and other excited states relax to lower-lying exciton states. Here, we present photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy as a method to probe transition probabilities from various excitonic states in cuprous oxide. We show giant Rydberg excitons at T=38T=38T=38 mK with principal quantum numbers up to n=30n=30n=30, corresponding to a calculated diameter of $3\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$.
Microwave–optical conversion is key to future networks of quantum devices, such as those based on superconducting technology. Conversion at the single quantum level requires strong nonlinearity, high bandwidth, and compatibility with a millikelvin environment. A large nonlinearity is observed in Rydberg atoms, but combining atomic gases with dilution refrigerators is technically challenging. Here, we demonstrate a strong microwave–optical nonlinearity in a cryogenic, solid-state system by exploiting Rydberg states of excitons in Cu2O. We measure a microwave–optical cross-Kerr coefficient of B0 = 0.022 ± 0.008 m V−2 at 4 K, which is several orders of magnitude larger than other solid-state systems. The results are in quantitative agreement with a nonlinear susceptibility model based on the giant microwave dipole moment between nearby excitonic states. Our results highlight the potential of Rydberg excitons for nonlinear optics and form the basis for a microwave–optical frequency converter based on Cu2O.