Intracavity Rydberg Superatom for Optical Quantum Engineering: Coherent Control, Single-Shot Detection, and Optical π Phase Shift

We demonstrate a new versatile building block for optical quantum technologies, enabling deterministic quantum engineering of light by combining the advantages of two complementary approaches: cavity quantum electrodynamics and interacting atomic ensembles. Our system is based on an intracavity Rydberg-blockaded atomic ensemble acting as a single two-level superatom. We coherently control its state and optically detect it in a single shot with 95% efficiency. Crucially, we demonstrate a superatom-state-dependent π phase rotation on the light reflected from the cavity. Together with the state manipulation and detection, it is a key ingredient for implementing deterministic photonic entangling gates and for generating highly nonclassical light states.