Rydberg Atoms in Cavity

This book highlights a comprehensive and self-contained account of the physics of Rydberg atoms and their integration within the broader framework of cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) and hybrid quantum systems. Rydberg atoms in cavities constitute a uniquely powerful and versatile platform for exploring strongly interacting quantum systems, where the combination of exaggerated atomic properties and engineered light matter coupling enables access to physical regimes that are otherwise unattainable. With their exceptionally large electric dipole moments, long radiative lifetimes, and extreme sensitivity to external electric and magnetic fields, Rydberg atoms amplify the strength of interatomic interactions by several orders of magnitude compared to ground-state atoms. When placed within optical or microwave resonators, these properties are further enhanced through cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED), which provides precise control over the interaction between matter and confined electromagnetic fields. This integration allows the realization of deterministic quantum gates, scalable entanglement generation, and photonic nonlinearities at the level of single photons capabilities that are at the core of quantum information science and next-generation quantum technologies.
 
Our central aim is to furnish the reader with both a foundational understanding of Rydberg physics and the advanced theoretical and technical tools required to contribute to the fast-growing research landscape. The exposition begins with the preparation and characterization of Rydberg states, including excitation techniques, radiative properties, and spectroscopic methods. It then systematically develops the key interaction mechanisms such as dipole blockade, Förster resonances, and tunable long-range van der Waals and dipole dipole couplings that underpin many-body correlations and collective dynamics. These mechanisms form the basis for much of the remarkable physics observed in ensembles of Rydberg atoms. The narrative then shifts to the interplay between strong atomic interactions and the confined electromagnetic modes of resonators. 

List of contents

1. Introduction.- 2. Rydberg atoms and their interactions.- 3. Cavity-Rydberg interaction,- 4. Nonlinear optics with blockade and polaritons.- 5. Cavity mediated Rydberg Quantum Phase Transitions.

About the author

Kashif Ammar Yasir is currently serving as an associate professor in the Department of Physics at Zhejiang Normal University, China, where he previously held positions as an assistant professor and postdoctoral researcher. He earned his Ph.D. in 2018 from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Area of his research is quantum optics and condense matter physics, and he is exploring the physics arriving from the optomechanical interaction of lasers with ultracold atoms inside cavities. He has significantly contributed to understanding the behavior of synthetic dressed states of atoms with cavity quantum optomechanical environment.
 
Wu-Ming Liu obtained Ph.D. in the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, China in 1994. At the same time, he received the President Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is currently working as a professor at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, 2/2002–present. His research interests include 1) atomic and molecular physics and quantum optics theory, laser cooling atoms and molecules, ultracold atoms and molecules, Bose-Einstein condensation, BEC-BCS crossover, multi-body boson and Fermi theory; 2) the theory of quantum information and quantum computation; 3) Condensed-matter theory: Spin-electronic materials and spintronics, spin-orbit coupling and the spin Hall effect, and strongly correlated systems.

Summary

This book highlights a comprehensive and self-contained account of the physics of Rydberg atoms and their integration within the broader framework of cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) and hybrid quantum systems. Rydberg atoms in cavities constitute a uniquely powerful and versatile platform for exploring strongly interacting quantum systems, where the combination of exaggerated atomic properties and engineered light–matter coupling enables access to physical regimes that are otherwise unattainable. With their exceptionally large electric dipole moments, long radiative lifetimes, and extreme sensitivity to external electric and magnetic fields, Rydberg atoms amplify the strength of interatomic interactions by several orders of magnitude compared to ground-state atoms. When placed within optical or microwave resonators, these properties are further enhanced through cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED), which provides precise control over the interaction between matter and confined electromagnetic fields. This integration allows the realization of deterministic quantum gates, scalable entanglement generation, and photonic nonlinearities at the level of single photons—capabilities that are at the core of quantum information science and next-generation quantum technologies.
 
Our central aim is to furnish the reader with both a foundational understanding of Rydberg physics and the advanced theoretical and technical tools required to contribute to the fast-growing research landscape. The exposition begins with the preparation and characterization of Rydberg states, including excitation techniques, radiative properties, and spectroscopic methods. It then systematically develops the key interaction mechanisms—such as dipole blockade, Förster resonances, and tunable long-range van der Waals and dipole–dipole couplings—that underpin many-body correlations and collective dynamics. These mechanisms form the basis for much of the remarkable physics observed in ensembles of Rydberg atoms. The narrative then shifts to the interplay between strong atomic interactions and the confined electromagnetic modes of resonators. 

Product details

• Authors: Wu-Ming Liu, Kashif Ammar Yasir
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 22.03.2026
• EAN: 9789819545704
• ISBN: 978-981-9545-70-4
• Illustrations: Approx. 230 p. 64 illus. in color.
• Series: Springer Series in Solid-State Sciences
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Physics, astronomy > Theoretical physics; Optische Physik, Quantum Optics, Quantum Information, Nonlinear Optics, Quantum Entanglement, Quantum technologies, Optical Cavities, Rydberg Polaritons, Strong Light–matter Coupling, Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics, Dipole Blockade, Single-photon Nonlinearity, Microwave Cavities