Ultrafast Quantum Many-body Dynamics of Rydberg Excited Atomic Mott-Insulator Lattice

An ensemble of Rydberg atoms is a unique platform for quantum simulation and quantum computation. In our research group, we are developing a novel approach for Rydberg-based quantum simulations and computations, where we use broadband pulsed lasers to excite ⁸⁷Rb atoms, in Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), Mott-Insulator (MI) lattice and optical tweezers, to Rydberg states in a timescale of 10 to 100 picoseconds at the speed limit set by the Rydberg splitting [1-4].

In my presentation, I will give the overview of our ultrafast quantum simulator in which we generate a strongly correlated ultracold Rydberg ensemble of ⁸⁷Rb atoms excited from an unity filling MI [1,3,4]. We observe and control its ultrafast many-body electron dynamics by performing the time-domain Ramsey interferometry with attosecond precision [3]. I will also discuss our recent observation of the strong spin-motion coupling emerging from the large variation of the interaction potential over the wavefunction spread by exciting the atoms to the Rydberg S state from the unity filling MI[4]. In the present experimental condition, the momentum kick was found non negligible because of the short Rydberg-Rydberg distance. Finally, in the outlook, I will discuss about the exciting proposal to bring the timescales of Rydberg interaction and motion of the atom together to investigate a larger class of Hamiltonians with ultrafast stroboscopic Rydberg excitation. In this novel approach the strength of the spin-motion coupling can be tuned arbitrarily relative to the motional energy scale set by trapping potentials [4].