Emergence of subharmonics in a microwave driven dissipative Rydberg gas

Liu, Zong-Kai; Sun, Kong-Hao; Cabot, Albert; Carollo, Federico; Zhang, Jun; Zhang, Zheng-Yuan; Zhang, Li-Hua; Liu, Bang; Han, Tian-Yu; Li, Qing; Ma, Yu; Chen, Han-Chao; Lesanovsky, Igor; Ding, Dong-Sheng; Shi, Bao-Sen

Abstract

Quantum many-body systems near phase transitions respond collectively to externally applied perturbations. We explore this phenomenon in a laser-driven dissipative Rydberg gas that is tuned to a bistable regime. Here two metastable phases coexist, which feature a low and high density of Rydberg atoms, respectively. The ensuing collective dynamics, which we monitor in situ, is characterized by stochastic collective jumps between these two macroscopically distinct many-body phases. We show that the statistics of these jumps can be controlled using a dual-tone microwave field. In particular, we find that the distribution of jump times develops peaks corresponding to subharmonics of the relative microwave detuning. Our study demonstrates the control of collective statistical properties of dissipative quantum many-body systems without the necessity of fine-tuning or of ultracold temperatures. Such robust many-body phenomena may find technological applications in sensing.

Citation

Liu, Z.-K., Sun, K.-H., Cabot, A., Carollo, F., Zhang, J., Zhang, Z.-Y., Zhang, L.-H., Liu, B., Han, T.-Y., Li, Q., Ma, Y., Chen, H.-C., Lesanovsky, I., Ding, D.-S., & Shi, B.-S. (2024). Emergence of subharmonics in a microwave driven dissipative Rydberg gas. Physical Review Research, 6(3), Article L032069. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevresearch.6.l032069

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 15, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Sep 18, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-09
• Deposit Date: Oct 24, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 24, 2024
• Journal: Physical Review Research
• Electronic ISSN: 2643-1564
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 3
• Article Number: L032069
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevresearch.6.l032069
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/39730971
• Publisher URL: https://journals.aps.org/prresearch/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.L032069