Quantum phase retrieval of a Rydberg wave packet using a half-cycle pulse

Area of Science:

• Quantum Information Science
• Atomic Physics
• Terahertz Spectroscopy

Background:

• Quantum data registers store information in the quantum phase of atomic states.
• Rydberg atoms offer a scalable platform for quantum information processing due to their large size and strong interactions.
• Controlling and retrieving quantum information is crucial for developing quantum technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel method for retrieving quantum information stored in the phase of an N-state Rydberg atom data register.
• To investigate the use of terahertz (THz) half-cycle pulses for quantum state manipulation.
• To explore the potential of multimode interference for targeted state manipulation in quantum systems.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a Rydberg atom data register as a wave packet with a specifically phase-reversed "marked bit".
• Application of a single terahertz half-cycle pulse to the atom register.
• Analysis of electron probability distribution changes to identify the marked bit.

Main Results:

• The terahertz pulse successfully drove a significant portion of the electron probability into the phase-reversed (marked) state.
• Multimode interference within the Rydberg atom system was identified as the mechanism for state manipulation.
• The experiment demonstrated the feasibility of using THz pulses for quantum information retrieval.

Conclusions:

• Terahertz half-cycle pulses are effective tools for retrieving quantum information encoded as phase in Rydberg atoms.
• This technique offers a promising pathway for developing new methods in quantum information processing and storage.
• The findings highlight the potential of Rydberg atoms and THz spectroscopy for future quantum technologies.