RUI: Dynamics and Control of Strongly Driven Coherent Processes in Rydberg Atoms

Colby College, Waterville ME

Investigators

Abstract

This research program continues the exploration of control of quantum systems driven by strong fields. The research will be performed with undergraduate students at Colby College. The experiments will be performed in Rydberg atoms, which allows the study of control in a system where the final state distribution is easily measured, in a frequency range where the shaped electromagnetic pulses can have exceptional fidelity and are straightforward to produce, and where uniform, strong, interactions are achievable with modest laboratory fields. The research to be performed is driven by two overriding questions. The first question is to what extent can strong interactions compensate for spectral bandwidth in driving population transfer. The second question is how to control systems where individual transitions are not independently addressable by their frequencies. The broader impact involves the education of undergraduate students.