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

Physical Review Applied

Strong microwave-induced cross-Kerr effect with Rydberg atoms at telecommunication wavelength

Wenfang Li, Mark Lam, Jinjin Du

Published May 6, 2025• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate an effective interaction between telecommunication-wavelength optical photons and microwave photons, mediated by Rydberg atoms. A microwave-induced giant cross-Kerr effect is observed in a ${}^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ vapor cell by our probing higher excited atomic states at the optical telecommunication band, and the measured third-order cross-Kerr coefficient ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{(3)}$ can reach approximately $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{m}}^{2}/{\mathrm{V}}^{2}$. These results can be applied to information processing of the integration of wireless and fiber-optic networks in the classical regime or the quantum regime.

DOI
10.1103/physrevapplied.23.054011

Related papers

Giant Cross–Kerr Effect for Propagating Microwaves Induced by an Artificial Atom

I.-C. Hoi, Anton Frisk Kockum, Tauno Palomaki +7 more

We investigate the effective interaction between two microwave fields, mediated by a transmon-type superconducting artificial atom which is strongly coupled to a coplanar transmission line. The interaction between the fields and atom produces an effective cross-Kerr coupling. We demonstrate average cross-Kerr phase shifts of up to 20 degrees per photon with both coherent microwave fields at the single-photon level. Our results provide an important step toward quantum applications with propagating microwave photons.

arXiv:1207.1203•Physical Review Letters•Aug 2, 2013•222 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

Exclusive Effect in Rydberg Atom-Based Multi-Band Microwave Communication

Shuhang You, Minghao Cai, Haoan Zhang +2 more

We have demonstrated a Rydberg atom-based two-band communication with the optically excited Rydberg state coupled to another pair of Rydberg states by two microwave fields, respectively. The initial Rydberg state is excited by a three-color electromagnetically-induced absorption in rubidium vapor cell via cascading transitions, with all of them located in infrared bands: a 780 nm laser servers as a probe to monitor the optical transmittancy via transition 5S1/2→5P3/2, 776 nm and 1260 nm lasers are used to couple the states 5P3/2 and 5D5/2 and states 5D5/2 and 44F7/2. Experimentally, we show that two channel communications carried on the two microwave transitions influence each other irreconcilably, so that they cannot work at their most sensitive microwave-optical conversion points simultaneously. For a remarkable communication quality for both channels, the two microwave fields both have to make concessions to reach a common microwave-optical gain. The optimized balance for the two microwave intensities locates at EMW1=6.5 mV/cm and EMW2=5.5 mV/cm in our case. This mutual exclusive influence is theoretically well-explained by an optical Bloch equation considering all optical and microwave field interactions with atoms.

Photonics•Mar 19, 2023•11 citations

Enhanced third-order and fifth-order Kerr nonlinearities in a cold atomic system via Rydberg-Rydberg interaction

Zhengyang Bai, Guoxiang Huang

We investigate the optical Kerr nonlinearities of an ensemble of cold Rydberg atoms under the condition of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). By using an approach beyond mean-field theory, we show that the system possesses not only enhanced third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility, but also giant fifth-order nonlinear optical susceptibility, which has a cubic dependence on atomic density. Our results demonstrate that both the third-order and the fifth-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities consist of two parts, contributed respectively by photon-atom interaction and Rydberg-Rydberg interaction. The Kerr nonlinearity induced by the Rydberg-Rydberg interaction plays a leading role at high atomic density. We find that the fifth-order nonlinear optical susceptibility in the Rydberg-EIT system may be five orders of magnitude larger than that obtained in traditional EIT systems. The results obtained may have promising applications in light and quantum information processing and transmission at weak-light level.

arXiv:1604.00585•Optics Express•Feb 23, 2016•69 citations

Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in Media with Rydberg Excitons 2: Cross-Kerr Modulation

David Ziemkiewicz, Sylwia Zielińska‐Raczyńska

By mapping photons into the sample of cuprous oxide with Rydberg excitons, it is possible to obtain a significant optical phase shift due to third-order cross-Kerr nonlinearities realized under the conditions of electromagnetically induced transparency. The optimum conditions for observation of the phase shift over π in Rydberg excitons media are examined. A discussion of the application of the cross-phase modulations in the field of all-optical quantum information processing in solid-state systems is presented.

Entropy•Jan 30, 2020•6 citations

Telecom-wavelength spectra of a Rydberg state in a hot vapor

Wenfang Li, Jinjin Du, Mark Lam +1 more

We study telecom-wavelength spectra of a Rydberg state in an atomic vapor with a three-photon excitation scheme. Two lasers of 780 nm and 776 nm are used to pump rubidium-85 atoms in a vapor cell to the 5 D 5/2 state, from which a probe beam of 1292 nm in the O-band telecommunication wavelength drives a transition to the 21 F 7/2 Rydberg state. We investigate the probe spectra over the power of pump lasers. The simulation based on a 4-level theoretical model captures the main features of the experimental results. This spectroscopic study paves the way for future experiments of making a direct link between fiber optics and radio transmission via Rydberg atoms.

arXiv:2209.08927•Optics Letters•Aug 8, 2022•7 citations
We experimentally demonstrate an effective interaction between telecommunication-wavelength optical photons and microwave photons, mediated by Rydberg atoms. A microwave-induced giant cross-Kerr effect is observed in a 85Rb{}^{85}\mathrm{Rb}85Rb vapor cell by our probing higher excited atomic states at the optical telecommunication band, and the measured third-order cross-Kerr coefficient \ensuremathχ(3){\ensuremath{\chi}}^{(3)}\ensuremathχ(3) can reach approximately 1\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10\ensuremath−10m2/V21\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{m}}^{2}/{\mathrm{V}}^{2}1\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fi10\ensuremath−10m2/V2. These results can be applied to information processing of the integration of wireless and fiber-optic networks in the classical regime or the quantum regime.
We investigate the effective interaction between two microwave fields, mediated by a transmon-type superconducting artificial atom which is strongly coupled to a coplanar transmission line. The interaction between the fields and atom produces an effective cross-Kerr coupling. We demonstrate average cross-Kerr phase shifts of up to 20 degrees per photon with both coherent microwave fields at the single-photon level. Our results provide an important step toward quantum applications with propagating microwave photons.
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.
We have demonstrated a Rydberg atom-based two-band communication with the optically excited Rydberg state coupled to another pair of Rydberg states by two microwave fields, respectively. The initial Rydberg state is excited by a three-color electromagnetically-induced absorption in rubidium vapor cell via cascading transitions, with all of them located in infrared bands: a 780 nm laser servers as a probe to monitor the optical transmittancy via transition 5S1/2→5P3/2, 776 nm and 1260 nm lasers are used to couple the states 5P3/2 and 5D5/2 and states 5D5/2 and 44F7/2. Experimentally, we show that two channel communications carried on the two microwave transitions influence each other irreconcilably, so that they cannot work at their most sensitive microwave-optical conversion points simultaneously. For a remarkable communication quality for both channels, the two microwave fields both have to make concessions to reach a common microwave-optical gain. The optimized balance for the two microwave intensities locates at EMW1=6.5 mV/cm and EMW2=5.5 mV/cm in our case. This mutual exclusive influence is theoretically well-explained by an optical Bloch equation considering all optical and microwave field interactions with atoms.
We investigate the optical Kerr nonlinearities of an ensemble of cold Rydberg atoms under the condition of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). By using an approach beyond mean-field theory, we show that the system possesses not only enhanced third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility, but also giant fifth-order nonlinear optical susceptibility, which has a cubic dependence on atomic density. Our results demonstrate that both the third-order and the fifth-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities consist of two parts, contributed respectively by photon-atom interaction and Rydberg-Rydberg interaction. The Kerr nonlinearity induced by the Rydberg-Rydberg interaction plays a leading role at high atomic density. We find that the fifth-order nonlinear optical susceptibility in the Rydberg-EIT system may be five orders of magnitude larger than that obtained in traditional EIT systems. The results obtained may have promising applications in light and quantum information processing and transmission at weak-light level.
By mapping photons into the sample of cuprous oxide with Rydberg excitons, it is possible to obtain a significant optical phase shift due to third-order cross-Kerr nonlinearities realized under the conditions of electromagnetically induced transparency. The optimum conditions for observation of the phase shift over π in Rydberg excitons media are examined. A discussion of the application of the cross-phase modulations in the field of all-optical quantum information processing in solid-state systems is presented.
We study telecom-wavelength spectra of a Rydberg state in an atomic vapor with a three-photon excitation scheme. Two lasers of 780 nm and 776 nm are used to pump rubidium-85 atoms in a vapor cell to the 5 D 5/2 state, from which a probe beam of 1292 nm in the O-band telecommunication wavelength drives a transition to the 21 F 7/2 Rydberg state. We investigate the probe spectra over the power of pump lasers. The simulation based on a 4-level theoretical model captures the main features of the experimental results. This spectroscopic study paves the way for future experiments of making a direct link between fiber optics and radio transmission via Rydberg atoms.