Observation and Measurement of Interaction-Induced Dispersive Optical Nonlinearities in an Ensemble of Cold Rydberg Atoms
Abstract
We observe and measure dispersive optical nonlinearities in an ensemble of cold Rydberg atoms placed inside an optical cavity. The experimental results are in agreement with a simple model where the optical nonlinearities are due to the progressive appearance of a Rydberg blockaded volume within the medium. The measurements allow a direct estimation of the “blockaded fraction” of atoms within the atomic ensemble.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- December 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.233602
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1209.1948
- Bibcode:
- 2012PhRvL.109w3602P
- Keywords:
-
- 42.50.Nn;
- 03.67.-a;
- 32.80.Ee;
- 32.80.Qk;
- Quantum optical phenomena in absorbing dispersive and conducting media;
- Quantum information;
- Rydberg states;
- Coherent control of atomic interactions with photons;
- Physics - Atomic Physics;
- Quantum Physics
- E-Print:
- Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 233602 (2012)