arXiv subjects

József Fortágh

Publications and source records attributed to József Fortágh.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Suppressing the Motion of Rydberg Atoms in Inhomogeneous Electric Fields via Stark Echo

Rydberg atoms possess strong electric dipole transitions and tunable energy levels, making them promising candidates for microwave to optical conversion on integrated superconducting atom chips. Achieving strong coupling of the atoms to e.g. the microwave field of an on-chip resonator requires placing the atoms within tens of micrometers from the chip surface. However, inhomogeneous stray electric fields originating from the surface can induce position-dependent Stark forces, resulting in atomic motion and leading to time-dependent shifts of the Rydberg energy levels. We experimentally investigate these effects using time-of-flight and spectroscopic techniques, observing substantial level shifts and signal loss attributable to field-induced atomic motion. A theoretical model incorporating an exponentially decaying surface field with a superimposed bias accurately reproduces the observed dynamics. To mitigate the level shift, we introduce a Stark echo sequence that dynamically reverses the force. This approach suppresses the atomic motion and maintains the atomic resonance. The method relies solely on global field control and is compatible with atom-resonator coupling architectures, providing a robust strategy for preserving coherence of Rydberg atoms in inhomogeneous electric fields near surfaces.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2026

Cold-Atom Buoy: A Differential Magnetic Sensing Technique in Cold Quadrupole Traps

We present a differential technique for vector magnetic sensing based on a cold-atom cloud in a magnetic quadrupole trap. An external homogeneous magnetic field displaces the trap center in a direction and magnitude proportional to the field. By reversing the quadrupole polarity between experimental shots and comparing the resulting cloud positions, we extract a differential displacement signal that is free from common-mode effects such as gravity and weak magnetic-field inhomogeneities. The signal is directionally proportional to the external field and requires only absorption imaging, without spectroscopic interrogation. Assuming micron-scale position resolution, the technique enables field resolution at the milli-Gauss level. It offers a practical tool for field compensation in magnetically sensitive experimental stages, bridging operational regimes from Earth-level fields to atomic magnetometry. A straightforward extension to full three-dimensional sensing is possible with only a minimal addition to standard cold-atom infrastructure.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Optical repumping and atom number balancing in a two-color MOT

We study a novel repumping transition for $^{88}$Sr atoms trapped in a 'blue' magneto-optical trap. We show that, while the repumping efficiency is about three orders of magnitude smaller than for traditional schemes, it is sufficient for recycling all atoms, provided the repumping laser beams are arranged to form a 'green' magneto- optical trap (MOT) helping to cool and confine the atoms and preventing their loss. Our main findings are: (i) that the green MOT configuration is able to trap 10 times more atoms in the blue MOT than using the green transition merely as a repump, and (ii) that the atom numbers in the two-color MOT can be balanced through experimental control parameters. The interest of this scheme lies in its capability of reaching low temperature and its suitability for continuous atomic beam generation.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Shaping Cold Atom Clouds with a Vortex Beam

We introduce a method for shaping a cold atom cloud using a vortex laser beam with a polarization singularity at its center, which creates a point of vanishing intensity. Exploiting this feature we experimentally demonstrate two different schemes to create micron-scaled line- and sheet-like atomic density distributions. In the dynamic scheme, atoms in the bright beam regions are accelerated and therefore effectively removed from the cloud. In the dark-state scheme, these atoms are pumped into a state that does not interact with the shaping light. In both cases, an atomic distribution remains, either as a thin line or as a sheet when an additional polarizer is used. We find good agreement between the experimental results and our theoretical model, which predicts the method to be in principle not diffraction-limited, paving the way for studies of phenomena arising in unconfined atomic ensembles on the micrometer scale.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Trapping potentials and quantum gates for microwave-dressed Rydberg atoms on an atom chip

Rydberg atoms in dc electric fields acquire static dipole moments. When the atoms are close to a surface producing an inhomogeneous electric field, such as by the adsorbates on an atom chip, depending on the sign of the dipole moment of the Rydberg-Stark eigenstate, the atoms may experience a force toward or away from the surface. We show that by applying a bias electric field and coupling a desired Rydberg state by a microwave field of proper frequency to another Rydberg state with opposite sign of the dipole moment, we can create a trapping potential for the atom at a prescribed distance from the surface. Perfectly overlapping trapping potentials for several Rydberg states can also be created by multicomponent microwave fields. A pair of such trapped Rydberg states of an atom can represent a qubit. Finally, we discuss an optimal realization of the SWAP gate between pairs of such atomic Rydberg qubits separated by a large distance but interacting with a common mode of a planar microwave resonator at finite temperature.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Sub-Doppler cooling of bosonic strontium in a two-color MOT

We report a two-color magneto-optical trap that continuously operates on the $\mathrm{(5s^2)\:^1S_0-(5s5p)\:^1P_1}$ and $\mathrm{(5s5p)\:^3P_2-(5s5d)\:^3D_3}$ transitions in $\mathrm{^{88}Sr}$. Owing to the sub-Doppler cooling from the metastable $\mathrm{(5s5p)\:^3P_2}$ state, a bimodal momentum distribution is observed, with the cold part of the ensemble reaching a temperature of 105 $\mathrmμ$K. A detailed simulation is established to explain the data. The absolute frequency of the $\mathrm{(5s5p)\:^3P_2-(5s5d)\:^3D_3}$ transition is measured to be 603 976 473 ${\pm}$ 2 MHz using a frequency comb, improving the literature value. The accompanying magnetic trap is characterized, and is shown to contribute to the sequential production of ensembles with temperatures down to 45 $\mathrmμ$K.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2025

Bandwidth enhanced current noise suppression with a SERF magnetometer

This work investigates the behavior of a spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) magnetometer integrated into the feedback branch of a closed-loop control circuit, designed to actively suppress noise from a current source. In this configuration, the magnetometer bandwidth is enhanced by almost two orders of magnitude as compared to the open-loop setup. Incorporating an injection transformer, the proposed system effectively reduces current noise to below 3 nA/sqrt(Hz) over a broad frequency bandwidth, independent of DC-current offsets. Analysis of the system sensitivity reveals that the performance is currently limited by technical noise. If this were to be eliminated, the system would achieve a current sensing sensitivity on the order of few pA/sqrt(Hz), while maintaining perfect galvanic isolation from the target circuit.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Reinforcement Learning in Ultracold Atom Experiments

Cold atom traps are at the heart of many quantum applications in science and technology. The preparation and control of atomic clouds involves complex optimization processes, that could be supported and accelerated by machine learning. In this work, we introduce reinforcement learning to cold atom experiments and demonstrate a flexible and adaptive approach to control a magneto-optical trap. Instead of following a set of predetermined rules to accomplish a specific task, the objectives are defined by a reward function. This approach not only optimizes the cooling of atoms just as an experimentalist would do, but also enables new operational modes such as the preparation of pre-defined numbers of atoms in a cloud. The machine control is trained to be robust against external perturbations and able to react to situations not seen during the training. Finally, we show that the time consuming training can be performed in-silico using a generic simulation and demonstrate successful transfer to the real world experiment.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2023

Coherent interface between optical and microwave photons on an integrated superconducting atom chip

Sub-wavelength arrays of atoms exhibit remarkable optical properties, analogous to those of phased array antennas, such as collimated directional emission or nearly perfect reflection of light near the collective resonance frequency. We propose to use a single-sheet sub-wavelength array of atoms as a switchable mirror to achieve a coherent interface between propagating optical photons and microwave photons in a superconducting coplanar waveguide resonator. In the proposed setup, the atomic array is located near the surface of the integrated superconducting chip containing the microwave cavity and optical waveguide. A driving laser couples the excited atomic state to Rydberg states with strong microwave transition. Then the presence or absence of a microwave photon in the superconducting cavity makes the atomic array transparent or reflective to the incoming optical pulses of proper frequency and finite bandwidth.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Entanglement and entropy production in coupled single-mode Bose-Einstein condensates

We investigate the time evolution of the entanglement entropy of coupled single-mode Bose-Einstein condensates in a double well potential at $T=0$ temperature, by combining numerical results with analytical approximations. We find that the coherent oscillations of the condensates result in entropy oscillations on the top of a linear entropy generation at short time scales. Due to dephasing, the entropy eventually saturates to a stationary value, in spite of the lack of equilibration. We show that this long time limit of the entropy reflects the semiclassical dynamics of the system, revealing the self-trapping phase transition of the condensates at large interaction strength by a sudden entropy jump. We compare the stationary limit of the entropy to the prediction of a classical microcanonical ensemble, and find surprisingly good agreement in spite of the non-equilibrium state of the system. Our predictions should be experimentally observable on a Bose-Einstein condensate in a double well potential or on a two-component condensate with inter-state coupling.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2021

Cavity driven Rabi oscillations between Rydberg states of atoms trapped on a superconducting atom chip

Hybrid quantum systems involving cold atoms and microwave resonators can enable cavity-mediated infinite-range interactions between atomic spin systems and realize atomic quantum memories and transducers for microwave to optical conversion. To achieve strong coupling of atoms to on-chip microwave resonators, it was suggested to use atomic Rydberg states with strong electric dipole transitions. Here we report on the realization of coherent coupling of a Rydberg transition of ultracold atoms trapped on an integrated superconducting atom chip to the microwave field of an on-chip coplanar waveguide resonator. We observe and characterize the cavity driven Rabi oscillations between a pair of Rydberg states of atoms in an inhomogeneous electric field near the chip surface. Our studies demonstrate the feasibility, but also reveal the challenges, of coherent state manipulation of Rydberg atoms interacting with superconducting circuits.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Microwave to optical conversion with atoms on a superconducting chip

We describe a scheme to coherently convert a microwave photon of a superconducting co-planar waveguide resonator to an optical photon emitted into a well-defined temporal and spatial mode. The conversion is realized by a cold atomic ensemble trapped above the surface of the superconducting atom chip, near the antinode of the microwave cavity. The microwave photon couples to a strong Rydberg transition of the atoms that are also driven by a pair of laser fields with appropriate frequencies and wavevectors for an efficient wave-mixing process. With only few thousand atoms in an ensemble of moderate density, the microwave photon can be completely converted into an optical photon emitted with high probability into the phase matched direction and, e.g., fed into a fiber waveguide. This scheme operates in a free-space configuration, without requiring strong coupling of the atoms to a resonant optical cavity.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Outcoupling from a Bose-Einstein condensate in the strong-field limit

Atoms can be extracted from a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) by driving spin-flips to untrapped states. The coherence properties of the BEC are transfered to the released atoms, creating a coherent beam of matter refered to as an atom laser. In this work, the extraction of atoms from a BEC is investigated numerically by solving a coupled set of Gross-Pitaevskii equations in up to three dimensions. The result is compared to experimental data and a semiclassical rate model. In the weak-coupling regime, quantitative agreement is reached between theory and experiment and a semiclassical rate model. In the strong-coupling regime, the atom laser enters a trapped state that manifests itself in a saturation of the rate of out-coupled atoms observed in new experimental data. The semiclassical rate model fails, but the numerical descriptions yield qualitative agreement with experimental data at the onset of saturation.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2019

Absolute frequency measurement of rubidium 5S-6P transitions

We report on measurements on the 5S-6P rubidium transition frequencies for rubidium isotopes with an absolute uncertainty of better than \SI{450}{kHz} for the 5S $\rightarrow$ 6P$_{1/2}$ transition and \SI{20}{kHz} for the 5S $\rightarrow$ 6P$_{3/2}$ transition, achieved by saturation absorption spectroscopy. From the results we derive the hyperfine splitting with an accuracy of \SI{460}{kHz} and \SI{30}{kHz}, respectively. We also verify the literature values for the isotope shifts as well as magnetic dipole constant and the electric quadrupole constant.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2019

Controlling the dipole blockade and ionization rate of Rydberg atoms in strong electric fields

We study a novel regime of the Rydberg excitation blockade using highly Stark-shifted, yet long-living, states of Rb atoms subject to electric fields above the classical ionization limit. Such states allow tuning the dipole-dipole interaction strength while their ionization rate can be changed over two orders of magnitude by small variations of the electric field. We demonstrate laser excitation of the interacting Rydberg states followed by their detection using controlled ionization and magnified imaging with high spatial and temporal resolution. Our work reveals the hitherto unexplored possibilities to control the interaction strength and dynamically tune the ionization and detection of Rydberg atoms, which can be useful for realizing and assessing quantum simulators that vary in space and time.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2018

Faithful state transfer between two-level systems via an actively cooled finite-temperature cavity

We consider state transfer between two qubits - effective two-level systems represented by Rydberg atoms - via a common mode of a microwave cavity at finite temperature. We find that when both qubits have the same coupling strength to the cavity field, at large enough detuning from the cavity mode frequency, quantum interference between the transition paths makes the swap of the excitation between the qubits largely insensitive to the number of thermal photons in the cavity. When, however, the coupling strengths are different, the photon number-dependent differential Stark shift of the transition frequencies precludes efficient transfer. Nevertheless, using an auxiliary cooling system to continuously extract the cavity photons, we can still achieve a high-fidelity state transfer between the qubits.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Observation of the motional Stark shift in low magnetic fields

We report on the observation of the motional Stark effect of highly excited $^{87}$Rb Rydberg atoms moving in the presence of a weak homogeneous magnetic field in a vapor cell. Employing electromagnetically induced transparency for spectroscopy of an atomic vapor, we observe the velocity-, quantum state- and magnetic field-dependent transition frequencies between the ground and Rydberg excited states. For atoms moving at velocities around $400\,\mathrm{m/s}$, the principal quantum number $n=100$ of the valence electron, and a magnetic field of $B=100\,\mathrm{G}$, we measure a motional Stark shift of $\sim10\,\mathrm{MHz}$. Our experimental results are supported by numerical calculations based on a diagonalization of the effective Hamiltonian governing the valence electron of $^{87}$Rb in the presence of crossed electric and magnetic fields.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2017

Ionization spectra of highly Stark shifted rubidium Rydberg states

We report on the observation and numerical calculation of ionization spectra of highly Stark-shifted Rydberg states of rubidium beyond the classical ionization threshold. In the numerical calculations, a complex absorbing potential (CAP) allows us to predict the energy levels and ionization rates of Rydberg states in this regime. Our approach of adjusting the CAP to the external electric field reduces the number of free parameters from one per resonance to a single one. Furthermore, we have measured the ionization spectra of magneto-optically trapped rubidium atoms which are excited to principal quantum numbers of 43 and 70 at various electric fields. The emerging ions are detected using an ion optics. We find good agreement between the numerically and experimentally obtained spectra.

physics.atom-ph↗