Microwave-coupled optical bistability in driven and interacting Rydberg gases

TL;DR

This paper explores how microwave coupling induces optical bistability in Rydberg gases, enabling control over nonequilibrium dynamics and phase transitions with potential applications in quantum technology and microwave sensing.

Contribution

It introduces microwave-induced optical bistability in Rydberg gases as a new method for controlling nonequilibrium phases and dynamics.

Findings

Microwave coupling creates versatile nonequilibrium responses.

Microwave-controlled phase transitions can be utilized for sensing.

Rydberg gases exhibit significantly different optical behaviors under microwave influence.

Abstract

Nonequilibrium dynamics are closely related to various fields of research, in which vastly different phases emerge when parameters are changed. However, it is difficult to construct nonequilibrium systems that have sufficiently tunable controllable parameters. Using microwave field coupling induced optical bistability, Rydberg gases exhibit a range of significantly different optical responses. In conjunction with electromagnetically induced transparency, the microwave coupling can create versatile nonequilibrium dynamics. In particular, the microwave coupling of two Rydberg states provides an additional handle for controlling the dynamics. And the microwave-controlled nonequilibrium phase transition has the potential to be applied in microwave field measurement. This study opens a new avenue to exploring bistable dynamics using microwave-coupled Rydberg gases, and developing quantum technological applications.