Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Developments in quantum information science rely critically on the ability to coherently manipulate and transfer entanglement between material and optical systems, and offer the foundation for a wide range of exciting new scientific and technological frontiers heretofore not possible in the classical realm. By mobilizing optical quantum states across quantum networks, quantum nodes can be wired together for distributed quantum computing, bottom-up quantum simulation, and long-distance quantum communication. Building upon our previous work towards quantum networks, we plan to build a novel quantum interface based upon the strong dipole-dipole interactions between ultracold Rydberg atoms. Extreme optical nonlinearity for coherently dressed Rydberg ensembles provides the means for functional quantum memories, efficient quantum processors, and for emulation of emergent quantum-magnetic materials. Our proposal will develop novel lego blocks for quantum networks by explicitly harnessing coherent atom-photon coupling, strong inter-atomic interactions, and quantum-reservoir engineering.This application requests funding for ultra-stable laser systems to directly excite ground-state atoms to high-lying Rydberg states of Cesium via single-photon transitions. Two fiber laser amplifier systems will undergo a series of nonlinear optical frequency conversions that produce a tunable, ultra-narrow linewidth UV source referenced to a ULE Fabry-Perot cavity, thereby offering direct access to Rydberg P-levels. The laser system will be used by two graduate students and a post-doctoral fellow.