New Delhi: In a landmark achievement for Indian quantum research, scientists have demonstrated how Rydberg atoms – atoms in highly excited states – stop acting as independent particles and begin interacting collectively under extremely high-energy conditions.
This breakthrough could play a defining role in the development of quantum computers, ultra-precise sensors, and advanced communication systems.
Ordinary atoms are microscopic, but Rydberg atoms become exceptionally large and hypersensitive when their outermost electron is nudged to a higher energy level. This unique property makes them central to future quantum technologies but also introduces unpredictability.
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A research team at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), successfully cooled rubidium atoms to temperatures just above absolute zero. These atoms, trapped using lasers and magnetic fields, were excited into Rydberg states with beams of light.
Typically, this results in a clear signal known as Autler–Townes splitting. However, once atoms crossed the 100th energy level, the signals became blurred and distorted, proving strong inter-atomic interactions.
Rydberg Atoms: First Global Demonstration of Interaction-Driven Distortions
“This is the first global demonstration of interaction-driven distortions in Rydberg atomic signals at such high states,” the institute noted. “We installed a highly sensitive detection system capable of observing even a few photons. This allowed us to detect Rydberg states beyond n > 100 with strong signal-to-noise ratios,” said Prof Sanjukta Roy, who led the experiment with PhD students Silpa B S and Shovan K Barik.
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Theoretical modeling for the study was provided by Prof Rejish Nath’s team at IISER Pune. Their collaborative efforts established crucial insights into the boundary between isolated atomic behavior, ideal for precision, and collective atomic behavior, which is essential for simulating complex quantum systems.
By crossing this threshold, Indian researchers have positioned themselves on the global quantum map, opening new possibilities for next-generation quantum devices.
Understanding when and how Rydberg atoms begin interacting as collectives will be key in building reliable and scalable quantum computers, sensors, and communication technologies.
