Quantum Optics Seminar by Prof. Tilman Pfau

Tilman Pfau
5. Physikalisches Institut, Universität Stuttgart
Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
t.pfau@physik.uni-stuttgart.de

Title

Coherent control of dense Rydberg gases

Abstract

We report on laser spectroscopy results obtained in a dense and frozen Rydberg gas. Here the long-range strong and repulsive van der Waals interaction is responsible for novel many-body physics. Universal scaling behaviour due to an underlying quantum phase transition is observed [1]. On the other hand novel molecular bonds resulting in ultralong-range Rydberg dimers and trimers can be investigated [2]. Finally we report on our effort to realize mesoscopic quantum ensembles based on thermal microscopic vapour cells [3].

References

[1] R. Löw, H. Weimer, U. Raitzsch, R. Heidemann, V. Bendkowsky, B. Butscher, H. P. Büchler, and T. Pfau, Phys. Rev. A 80, 033422 (2009), H. Weimer, R. Löw, T. Pfau, and H. P. Büchler, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101 250601 (2008).
[2] V. Bendkowsky, B. Butscher, J. Nipper, J. P. Shaffer, R. Löw, T. Pfau, Nature 458, 1005 (2009), V. Bendkowsky, B. Butscher, J. Nipper, J. Balewski, J. P. Shaffer, R. Löw, T. Pfau, W. Li, J. Stanojevic, T. Pohl, and J. M. Rost, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 163201 (2010); B. Butscher, J. Nipper, J. B. Balewski, L. Kukota, V. Bendkowsky, R. Löw, and T. Pfau Nature Physics 6, 970-974 (2010).
[3] H. Kübler, J. P. Shaffer, T. Baluktsian, R. Löw, and T. Pfau, Nature Photonics 4, 112 (2010).