Continuous wave quantum light control via engineered Rydberg induced dephasing

Abstract: We analyze several variations of a single-photon optical switch operating in the continuous wave regime, as presented in the accompanying paper [Tsiamis et al., Continuous wave single photon switch based on a Rydberg atom ensemble]. The devices are based on ensembles of Rydberg atoms that interact through van der Waals interaction. Continuously probing the atomic cloud with a weak coherent probe field, under the conditions of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) leads to total reflection/transmission of the probe in the absence of control photons. Exciting a Rydberg state with a single control photon breaks the EIT conditions, drastically altering the probe's reflectance/transmittance. We examine how the collective Rydberg interaction in an atomic ensemble enclosed in an optical cavity or in free space induces two probe-induced dephasing processes. These processes localize the control photons and modify the probe's reflectance/transmittance, enhancing the lifetime of control excitations and increasing the devices' efficiency. The devices are characterized by the probability to absorb a control photon and the associated gain as described by the change in the probe's reflectance/transmittance. The results are confirmed through numerical calculations of realistic one- and three-dimensional atomic ensembles in a cavity and an one-dimensional atomic ensemble in free space. The proposed continuous wave devices complement previously realized single photon transistors and expand the possible quantum light manipulation circuitry.