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Phase transition and optical bistability in a cold Rydberg Rb sample observed via absorption spectroscopy
Manuel Alejandro Lefrán Torres1, Jorge Guillermo Marquez Díaz1, Jorge Douglas Massayuki Kondo2
1Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, 13560-970, Brazil.
Scientific Reports
|July 2, 2026
Summary
Researchers observed optical bistability and phase transitions in cold Rubidium-87 (Rb) samples. This phenomenon arises from interactions between Rydberg atoms and is crucial for understanding nonlinear optical responses.
Area of Science:
- Atomic physics
- Quantum optics
- Condensed matter physics
Background:
- Rydberg atoms exhibit strong interactions due to the Rydberg blockade effect.
- Optical bistability is a nonlinear optical phenomenon with applications in optical switching and memory.
- Cold atomic ensembles provide a controlled environment for studying quantum phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate phase transitions and optical bistability in a cold Rb sample excited to Rydberg states.
- To characterize the system's behavior concerning Rydberg excitation parameters.
- To understand the role of many-body interactions in nonlinear optical responses.
Main Methods:
- Absorption spectroscopy was employed to study the Rb sample.
- The Rydberg excitation laser was scanned to probe the system's response.
- The dependence on Rydberg Rabi frequency and principal quantum number was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Hysteretic behavior indicative of optical bistability was observed.
- The time evolution revealed characteristic dynamics of transitions between stable states.
- Results align with optical bistability induced by a cold plasma and Rydberg blockade.
Conclusions:
- Collective many-body interactions are key to nonlinear optical responses in Rydberg ensembles.
- The study demonstrates a method for achieving optical bistability using Rydberg atoms.
- Findings contribute to the understanding of quantum phenomena in strongly interacting atomic systems.
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