Nonlinear absorption in interacting Rydberg electromagnetically-induced-transparency spectra on two-photon resonance

Annika Tebben, Clément Hainaut, Andre Salzinger, Sebastian Geier, Titus Franz, Thomas Pohl, Martin Gärttner, Gerhard Zürn, and Matthias Weidemüller
Phys. Rev. A 103, 063710 – Published 24 June 2021

Abstract

We experimentally investigate the nonlinear transmission spectrum of coherent light fields propagating through a Rydberg EIT medium with strong atomic interactions. In contrast to previous investigations, which have largely focused on resonant control fields, we explore here the full two-dimensional spectral response of the Rydberg gas. Our measurements confirm previously observed spectral features for a vanishing control-field detuning, but also reveal significant differences on two-photon resonance. In particular, we find qualitative deficiencies of mean-field models and rate-equation simulations as well as a third-order nonlinear susceptibility that accounts for pairwise interaction effects at low probe-field intensities in describing the nonlinear probe-field response under EIT conditions. Our results suggest that a more complete understanding of Rydberg EIT and emerging photon interactions requires to go beyond existing simplified models as well as few-photon theories.

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  • Received 23 February 2021
  • Accepted 14 June 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.103.063710

©2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

Annika Tebben1,*, Clément Hainaut1, Andre Salzinger1, Sebastian Geier1, Titus Franz1, Thomas Pohl2, Martin Gärttner3,1,4, Gerhard Zürn1, and Matthias Weidemüller1,*

  • 1Physikalisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 226, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
  • 2Center for Complex Quantum Systems, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
  • 3Kirchhoff-Institut für Physik, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 227, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
  • 4Institut für Theoretische Physik, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Philosophenweg 16, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany

  • *Corresponding authors: tebben@physi.uni-heidelberg.de; weidemueller@uni-heidelberg.de

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Issue

Vol. 103, Iss. 6 — June 2021

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