Rydberg-Mediated Nonlinear Quantum Optics
Abstract
Rydberg atoms have emerged as a versatile platform for quantum optics due to their exaggerated properties, particularly their strong long-range interactions, which enable a new regime of light-matter interaction. By mapping the interactions between Rydberg atoms onto photons, effective photon-photon interactions can be realized at the single-photon level, thereby overcoming the intrinsic weakness of conventional optical nonlinearities. In this review, we first introduce the fundamental physical principles of Rydberg-mediated quantum optics, and then discuss some key developments, including single-photon engineering, photonic quantum gates, contactless nonlinear optics, and quantum entanglement, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and prospects of this rapidly developing field.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2608.02992,
title = {Rydberg-Mediated Nonlinear Quantum Optics},
author = {Yun-Hui He and Chang-Cheng Li and Xu Shen and Jing-Xu Bai and Xiao-Feng Shi and Lin Li and Yue-Chun Jiao and Jian-Ming Zhao},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2608.02992},
year = {2026}
}