Photon propagation through dissipative Rydberg media at large input rates

Area of Science:

• Quantum optics
• Atomic physics
• Many-body physics

Background:

• Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) enables study of light-matter interactions.
• Rydberg blockade in dense atomic media causes strong photon-photon interactions.
• High photon flux presents a challenge for many-body dissipative quantum systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate dissipative propagation of quantized light in interacting Rydberg media.
• Compare experimental results with novel theoretical models in the many-photon limit.
• Identify and explain discrepancies between theory and experiment at high photon flux.

Main Methods:

• Experimental study of pulse shapes and second-order correlation functions of outgoing light.
• Comparison with simulations from two novel theoretical approaches.
• Development of a phenomenological model to account for experimental discrepancies.

Main Results:

• Good agreement between theory and experiment at low incoming photon flux.
• Lower observed light intensity than predicted at higher photon flux.
• Identification of Rydberg excitation 'pollutants' as the cause of discrepancy.
• Observation of unconventional correlation function shapes at high photon rates.

Conclusions:

• The developed theoretical models accurately describe low-flux photon propagation.
• Pollutants, arising from reabsorbed scattered photons, significantly affect high-flux propagation.
• Rydberg blockade physics leads to unique correlation functions in the high photon rate regime.