Time delay of mean-field interaction in thermal Rydberg atomic gases

Area of Science:

• Atomic physics
• Quantum optics
• Nonequilibrium statistical mechanics

Background:

• Mean-field theory is widely used for studying nonequilibrium dynamics in hot Rydberg atomic ensembles.
• The underlying mechanisms generating these mean-field interactions are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the fundamental mechanism behind mean-field interaction generation in Rydberg atomic ensembles.
• To elucidate the role of collision ionization in the nonequilibrium dynamics of these systems.

Main Methods:

• Experimental observation of a time-delay effect in mean-field interaction buildup.
• Analysis of relevant collision channels and proposal of a microscopic mechanism.
• Application of square-wave modulation spectroscopy (SMS) to monitor mean-field interaction growth.

Main Results:

• A time-delay effect in the dynamical buildup of mean-field interaction was experimentally observed.
• A microscopic mechanism quantitatively explaining the hysteresis window in optical bistability was proposed.
• The delay effect was demonstrated to potentially explain self-sustained oscillations in thermal Rydberg gases.

Conclusions:

• Ionization processes significantly contribute to the nonequilibrium dynamics of thermal Rydberg gases.
• The observed time-delay effect provides crucial insights into mean-field interaction generation.
• Findings advance understanding of Rydberg gases for quantum sensing and quantum information science.