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Motion assisted facilitated excitation of Rydberg atoms in optical tweezers

Lorenzo Festa, Nikolaus Lorenz, Lea-Marina Steinert, Zaijun Chen, Philip Osterholz, Robin Eberhard, Christian Groß

Published Mar 26, 2021• 3 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Rydberg atoms feature extremely strong interactions, in particular between states of opposite electronic parity. In a room temperature environment, these states are inevitably populated due to black-body radiation, leading to many-body dephasing. Here we report on a controlled microscopic study of the resulting interactions, which we probe single atom resolved by facilitated excitation in an optical tweezer array. We identify motion of the excited atoms to be of prime importance for the process, which can be used to mitigate the impact of the state contamination on 2D quantum simulators.

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Blackbody-radiation-induced facilitated excitation of Rydberg atoms in optical tweezers

Lorenzo Festa, Nikolaus Lorenz, Lea-Marina Steinert +4 more

Blackbody radiation, omnipresent at room temperature, couples nearby Rydberg states. The resulting state mixture features strong dipolar interactions, which may induce dephasing in a Rydberg many-body system. Here we report on a single atom resolved study of this state contamination and the emerging pairwise interactions in optical tweezers. For near-resonant laser detuning we observe characteristic correlations with a length scale set by the dipolar interaction. Our study reveals the microscopic origin of avalanche excitation observed in previous experiments.

arXiv:2103.14383•Physical Review A•Jan 19, 2022•26 citations

A Rydberg tweezer platform with potassium atoms

Nikolaus Lorenz

Quantum simulation offers the possibility to study quantum mechanical problems which are untraceable on classical computers. This thesis introduces a novel platform for quantum simulation and presents the first experimental realisation of single potassium atoms trapped in optical tweezers. Interactions between individual atoms are induced by strong energy shifts of atoms excited to states with large principal quantum number, so-called Rydberg states. Either direct excitation to Rydberg states or off-resonant dressing can be used to induce these interactions. We argue that potassium is well-suited for the implementation of Rydberg dressing, enabling simultaneous dressing of both ground states to engineer complex interactions. Using techniques to cool and trap cold atoms, single potassium atoms are prepared in arrays of optical tweezers. Raman sideband cooling reduces vibrational excitations and prepares the atoms close to the motional ground state. This cooling technique mitigates severe limitations for Rydberg dressing, arising from thermal broadening and inhomogeneous light shifts in the array of atoms. To directly excite atoms to Rydberg states, a high power laser setup with two cavity-enhanced frequency doubling stages is constructed, generating up to one Watt of ulta-violet light at 286 nm. By exciting atoms to Rydberg states we observe Rabi oscillations with Rabi frequencies of up to 1 MHz, demonstrating coherent control of Rydberg atoms. Finally, we combine these techniques to observe interactions in two ways: First, we create a so-called superatom of up to four individual atoms using direct excitation and Rydberg-blockade and observe coherent oscillations to this collective state. We measure the expected square root scaling of the effective Rabi frequency with the number of individual atoms, confirming the creation of a many-body entangled state. Secondly, we off-resonantly dress the atoms prepared in a one-dimensional chain and measure correlated interaction shifts over multiple sites. In summary, we have developed a platform for quantum simulation with single atoms in optical tweezers. The presented results show coherent control of single atoms and interactions induced by Rydberg states. We have thus demonstrated that the system is well-suited for quantum simulation of many-body systems.

•Jan 1, 2021•4 citations

Lamb-Dicke Dynamics of Interacting Rydberg Atoms Coupled to the Motion of an Optical Tweezer Array

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Neutral Rydberg atoms trapped in optical tweezer arrays provide a platform for quantum simulation and computation. In this work, we investigate the Lamb-Dicke dynamics of coupled Rydberg atoms for different trapping frequencies. We model the atomic motion by both internal and motional degrees of freedom, in which the motional states arise due to the oscillation of each atom in optical tweezer traps due to the light-atom interaction. In this setup, the internal states are coupled to a laser light with a Rabi frequency, while each internal state of each atom is also harmonically trapped with a trap frequency that depends on the internal state. The impact of the coherent motion of the optical tweezers on the collective dynamics of the many-body Rydberg atoms is explored for varying Lamb-Dicke parameters and with different trap frequencies. We see the occurrence of dynamical phases e.g., Rabi oscillations in the decoupled limit, the limit torus phase for magic trapping, and the limit cycle phase as the trap frequency is further increased.

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Coupling electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom of Rydberg atoms held in optical tweezer arrays offers a flexible mechanism for creating and controlling atom-atom interactions. We find that the state-dependent coupling between Rydberg atoms and local oscillator modes gives rise to two- and three-body interactions which are controllable through the strength of the local confinement. This approach even permits the cancellation of two-body terms such that three-body interactions become dominant. We analyze the structure of these interactions on two-dimensional bipartite lattice geometries and explore the impact of three-body interactions on system ground state on a square lattice. Focusing specifically on a system of ^{87}Rb atoms, we show that the effects of the multibody interactions can be maximized via a tailored dressed potential within a trapping frequency range of the order of a few hundred kilohertz and for temperatures corresponding to a >90% occupation of the atomic vibrational ground state. These parameters, as well as the multibody induced timescales, are compatible with state-of-the-art arrays of optical tweezers. Our work shows a highly versatile handle for engineering multibody interactions of quantum many-body systems in most recent manifestations on Rydberg lattice quantum simulators.

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Abstract Optical tweezers are used to facilitate cold collisions between two Rydberg rubidium atoms (87Rb) by controlling the impact parameter and collision energy. One atom is held stationary while the other is propelled to a constant velocity. After the tweezers are deactivated, both atoms are excited to a Rydberg state using a π-pulse. Following the collision, a second π-pulse is applied. If the stationary atom undergoes minimal momentum transfer and returns to its ground state, it can be recaptured when the tweezer is reactivated. The collision probability as a function of the impact parameter is extracted from the atom loss in the tweezer and used to determine the collisional cross section between Rydberg atoms. Numerical simulations of elastic two-body collisions agree well with the experimental data, providing valuable insights into the parameter regime where quantum effects will become important.

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Rydberg atom arrays as quantum simulators for molecular dynamics

Simon Euchner, Igor Lesanovsky

Rydberg atoms held in optical tweezer arrays combine vibrational and electronic degrees of freedom that can be coupled and manipulated at a microscopic level. This opens opportunities for the quantum simulation of artificial molecular systems and offers in particular a platform for probing complex vibronic dynamics in controlled settings with increasing complexity. Tailored interatomic interactions and electron-phonon couplings yield handles for designing electronic state manifolds, for studying structural transitions, and for exploring nonclassical vibrational states near molecular instabilities. Furthermore, this quantum simulator opens opportunities for testing and quantifying the validity of fundamental concepts, such as the Born-Oppenheimer approximation and quantum corrections to it.

arXiv:2506.09865•Physical Review Research•Aug 27, 2025•5 citations
Rydberg atoms feature extremely strong interactions, in particular between states of opposite electronic parity. In a room temperature environment, these states are inevitably populated due to black-body radiation, leading to many-body dephasing. Here we report on a controlled microscopic study of the resulting interactions, which we probe single atom resolved by facilitated excitation in an optical tweezer array. We identify motion of the excited atoms to be of prime importance for the process, which can be used to mitigate the impact of the state contamination on 2D quantum simulators.
Blackbody radiation, omnipresent at room temperature, couples nearby Rydberg states. The resulting state mixture features strong dipolar interactions, which may induce dephasing in a Rydberg many-body system. Here we report on a single atom resolved study of this state contamination and the emerging pairwise interactions in optical tweezers. For near-resonant laser detuning we observe characteristic correlations with a length scale set by the dipolar interaction. Our study reveals the microscopic origin of avalanche excitation observed in previous experiments.
Quantum simulation offers the possibility to study quantum mechanical problems which are untraceable on classical computers. This thesis introduces a novel platform for quantum simulation and presents the first experimental realisation of single potassium atoms trapped in optical tweezers. Interactions between individual atoms are induced by strong energy shifts of atoms excited to states with large principal quantum number, so-called Rydberg states. Either direct excitation to Rydberg states or off-resonant dressing can be used to induce these interactions. We argue that potassium is well-suited for the implementation of Rydberg dressing, enabling simultaneous dressing of both ground states to engineer complex interactions. Using techniques to cool and trap cold atoms, single potassium atoms are prepared in arrays of optical tweezers. Raman sideband cooling reduces vibrational excitations and prepares the atoms close to the motional ground state. This cooling technique mitigates severe limitations for Rydberg dressing, arising from thermal broadening and inhomogeneous light shifts in the array of atoms. To directly excite atoms to Rydberg states, a high power laser setup with two cavity-enhanced frequency doubling stages is constructed, generating up to one Watt of ulta-violet light at 286 nm. By exciting atoms to Rydberg states we observe Rabi oscillations with Rabi frequencies of up to 1 MHz, demonstrating coherent control of Rydberg atoms. Finally, we combine these techniques to observe interactions in two ways: First, we create a so-called superatom of up to four individual atoms using direct excitation and Rydberg-blockade and observe coherent oscillations to this collective state. We measure the expected square root scaling of the effective Rabi frequency with the number of individual atoms, confirming the creation of a many-body entangled state. Secondly, we off-resonantly dress the atoms prepared in a one-dimensional chain and measure correlated interaction shifts over multiple sites. In summary, we have developed a platform for quantum simulation with single atoms in optical tweezers. The presented results show coherent control of single atoms and interactions induced by Rydberg states. We have thus demonstrated that the system is well-suited for quantum simulation of many-body systems.
Neutral Rydberg atoms trapped in optical tweezer arrays provide a platform for quantum simulation and computation. In this work, we investigate the Lamb-Dicke dynamics of coupled Rydberg atoms for different trapping frequencies. We model the atomic motion by both internal and motional degrees of freedom, in which the motional states arise due to the oscillation of each atom in optical tweezer traps due to the light-atom interaction. In this setup, the internal states are coupled to a laser light with a Rabi frequency, while each internal state of each atom is also harmonically trapped with a trap frequency that depends on the internal state. The impact of the coherent motion of the optical tweezers on the collective dynamics of the many-body Rydberg atoms is explored for varying Lamb-Dicke parameters and with different trap frequencies. We see the occurrence of dynamical phases e.g., Rabi oscillations in the decoupled limit, the limit torus phase for magic trapping, and the limit cycle phase as the trap frequency is further increased.
Coupling electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom of Rydberg atoms held in optical tweezer arrays offers a flexible mechanism for creating and controlling atom-atom interactions. We find that the state-dependent coupling between Rydberg atoms and local oscillator modes gives rise to two- and three-body interactions which are controllable through the strength of the local confinement. This approach even permits the cancellation of two-body terms such that three-body interactions become dominant. We analyze the structure of these interactions on two-dimensional bipartite lattice geometries and explore the impact of three-body interactions on system ground state on a square lattice. Focusing specifically on a system of ^{87}Rb atoms, we show that the effects of the multibody interactions can be maximized via a tailored dressed potential within a trapping frequency range of the order of a few hundred kilohertz and for temperatures corresponding to a >90% occupation of the atomic vibrational ground state. These parameters, as well as the multibody induced timescales, are compatible with state-of-the-art arrays of optical tweezers. Our work shows a highly versatile handle for engineering multibody interactions of quantum many-body systems in most recent manifestations on Rydberg lattice quantum simulators.
Abstract Optical tweezers are used to facilitate cold collisions between two Rydberg rubidium atoms (87Rb) by controlling the impact parameter and collision energy. One atom is held stationary while the other is propelled to a constant velocity. After the tweezers are deactivated, both atoms are excited to a Rydberg state using a π-pulse. Following the collision, a second π-pulse is applied. If the stationary atom undergoes minimal momentum transfer and returns to its ground state, it can be recaptured when the tweezer is reactivated. The collision probability as a function of the impact parameter is extracted from the atom loss in the tweezer and used to determine the collisional cross section between Rydberg atoms. Numerical simulations of elastic two-body collisions agree well with the experimental data, providing valuable insights into the parameter regime where quantum effects will become important.
Rydberg atoms held in optical tweezer arrays combine vibrational and electronic degrees of freedom that can be coupled and manipulated at a microscopic level. This opens opportunities for the quantum simulation of artificial molecular systems and offers in particular a platform for probing complex vibronic dynamics in controlled settings with increasing complexity. Tailored interatomic interactions and electron-phonon couplings yield handles for designing electronic state manifolds, for studying structural transitions, and for exploring nonclassical vibrational states near molecular instabilities. Furthermore, this quantum simulator opens opportunities for testing and quantifying the validity of fundamental concepts, such as the Born-Oppenheimer approximation and quantum corrections to it.