Mainz 2026 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 31: Ultracold Matter IV – Bosons, Rydberg Systems, and Others (joint session Q/A)

Q 31.1: Talk

Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 14:30–14:45, P 2

Interfacing Rydberg atoms with a high overtone bulk acoustic wave resonator in the GHz regime — •Julia Gamper, Valerie Leu, Cedric Wind, Wolfgang Alt, and Sebastian Hofferberth — Institute of Applied Physics, University of Bonn, Germany

Rydberg atoms have electric dipole-allowed transitions from microwave to optical frequencies, making them ideal for hybrid quantum platforms interfacing optical photons and on-chip devices. We specifically are developing a novel hybrid system, coupling Rydberg microwave transitions to the motion of an electromechanical resonator.

In this talk, we present our first approach towards this goal, combining ultracold atoms trapped with an atom chip and a high-overtone bulk acoustic wave resonator (HBAR). Specifically, we aim to use a superconducting Z-wire trap to position atoms near a 4K sample and with optimal overlap with the HBAR electric field. We present our calculations on Rydberg-oscillator coupling, showing that strong coupling between single Rydberg excitation and single phonon is reachable with current HBARs. Our chip design includes a coplanar waveguide resonator, whose second harmonic is resonant with both the Rydberg atoms and the HBAR, enabling classical driving of both components of the hybrid system. Our first application of this hybrid system is cooling of the oscillator mode well below the 4K environment temperature via engineered dissipation of the coupled Rydberg atoms.

Keywords: Rydberg Atoms; Hybrid Systems; Electromechanical Oscillator; Cryostat