An Intracavity Rydberg Superatom for Optical Quantum Engineering: Coherent Control, Single-Shot Detection and Optical $π$ Phase Shift

Abstract

We demonstrate a new versatile building block for optical quantum technologies, based on an intracavity Rydberg-blockaded atomic ensemble acting as a single two-level superatom. We coherently control its state and optically detect it in a single shot with a 95% efficiency. Crucially, we demonstrate a superatom-state-dependent π phase rotation on the light reflected from the cavity. Together with the state manipulation and detection, it is a key ingredient for implementing deterministic photonic entangling gates and for generating highly non-classical light states.