A room-temperature single-photon source based on strongly interacting Rydberg atoms

Abstract

Single photons from inflated atoms Single-photon emitters are of interest for many applications, such as quantum sensing and quantum secure communication. Although efficient on-demand solid-state sources based on quantum dots, defect color centers in diamond, and single molecules are available, most of these systems require cryogenic temperatures for optimal performance. Ripka et al. used a cloud of warm excited rubidium atoms confined to a gas cell and exploited the exaggerated interaction of Rydberg states to generate single photons on demand. The results demonstrate the viability of atomic gases for application in the development of quantum technologies. Science , this issue p. 446