"Quantum Simulation and Computing with Rydberg Atoms"

Abstract:

This lecture will cover recent advances with Rydberg atoms for quantum simulation from an experimentalist perspective. I will start with the fundamental aspects of Rydberg atoms and how they can be used to engineer controlled and coherent interactions between atoms. Then I will introduce the platform of arrays of individually trapped atoms, which allows control over each individual atom, and how this platform is used to study highly correlated many-body spin physics.

In the second part of the lecture, the focus will shift to our primary research topic, so-called circular Rydberg states. These states, characterized by their maximum angular momentum, have incredibly long lifetimes, overcoming the fundamental coherence time limit imposed by the short lifetime of low-angular momentum Rydberg states used in state-of-the-art devices. The subsequent discussion will address the preparation and shielding of circular states against thermal radiation, along with the exploration of techniques that emerge from the combination with two-valence electron atom species. In the last part of the lecture, I will focus on the importance of the control software and hardware stack in such experiments. Here, I will also present our new open-source lab orchestrator framework Atomiq.

Bio:

Dr. Christian Hölzl completed his PhD at the University of Stuttgart, where his research focused on quantum simulations with neutral atoms. During this time, he made significant contributions to the application of circular Rydberg states in tweezer arrays. Dr. Hölzl is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Stuttgart, where he is working on the development of the open-source quantum control orchestration software Atomiq.