Mainz 2026 – scientific programme
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A: Fachverband Atomphysik
A 26: Poster – Ultracold Matter (joint session Q/A)
A 26.27: Poster
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 17:00–19:00, Philo 2. OG
Nonlinear Quantum Optics and Rydberg Molecules in Ultracold Ytterbium — •Anthea Nitsch1, Chris George1, Tangi Legrand1, Milena Simić2, Eduardo Uruñela1, Xin Wang1, Wolfgang Alt1, Matthew Eiles2, and Sebastian Hofferberth1 — 1Institute of Applied Physics, University of Bonn, Germany — 2Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Germany
Mapping the strong interactions between Rydberg excitations in ultra-cold atomic ensembles onto photons enables the achievement of high optical nonlinearities at the single-photon level. Previous demonstrations of this concept have relied exclusively on alkali atoms. In contrast, two-valence-electron species like ytterbium offer unique advantages, including narrow-linewidth laser cooling and, as we show for 174Yb, longer coherence times of polaritons compared to earlier Rubidium-based experiments.
In this poster, we present the latest upgrades and results from our ytterbium apparatus, featuring a flat-top beam to suppress repulsion of ground state atoms and realize photon-photon interactions via Rydberg polaritons. By minimizing frequency noise, we may extend Rydberg polariton coherence times. This is demonstrated by characterizing near-UV laser noise using a portable Mach-Zehnder interferometer. We show electromagnetically induced transparency and Rydberg blockade induced anti-bunching of photons and slow light. We also report the spectroscopic characterization of ultra-long-range ytterbium Rydberg molecules that arise as bound states in the low energy scattering of a highly excited Rydberg electron and a ground state atom.
Keywords: Nonlinear Quantum Optics; Ytterbium; Rydberg Molecules