Collective quantum jumps of Rydberg atoms

TL;DR

This paper investigates collective quantum jumps in a large ensemble of Rydberg atoms, revealing how entanglement and measurement induce transitions between low and high Rydberg population states.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of collective quantum jumps in Rydberg atom systems and explains their dependence on entanglement and quantum measurement.

Findings

Jumps occur only in large atom ensembles

Entanglement enables classically forbidden transitions

Quantum measurement drives the collective jumps

Abstract

We study an open quantum system of atoms with long-range Rydberg interaction, laser driving, and spontaneous emission. Over time, the system occasionally jumps between a state of low Rydberg population and a state of high Rydberg population. The jumps are inherently collective and in fact exist only for a large number of atoms. We explain how entanglement and quantum measurement enable the jumps, which are otherwise classically forbidden.