Level shifts of rubidium Rydberg states due to binary interactions

We propose several schemes for implementing a fast two-qubit quantum gate for neutral atoms with the gate operation time much faster than the time scales associated with the external motion of the atoms in the trapping potential. In our example, the large interaction energy required to perform fast gate operations is provided by the dipole-dipole interaction of atoms excited to low-lying Rydberg states in constant electric fields. A detailed analysis of imperfections of the gate operation is given.

Expressions are derived for the probability p(n) that n photons are emitted in a given time in the steady state by a two-level atom, when it is placed in a resonant, coherent, exciting field. The distribution p(n) is shown to be narrower than Poissonian. The ratio [ - ] is negative and has an absolute maximum value of 3/4. The possibility of observing the sub-Poissonian statistics is discussed briefly.

We describe a technique for manipulating quantum information stored in collective states of mesoscopic ensembles. Quantum processing is accomplished by optical excitation into states with strong dipole-dipole interactions. The resulting ``dipole blockade'' can be used to inhibit transitions into all but singly excited collective states. This can be employed for a controlled generation of collective atomic spin states as well as non-classical photonic states and for scalable quantum logic gates. An example involving a cold Rydberg gas is analyzed.