This talk explores a novel approach for detecting single Rydberg atoms or ions by leveraging electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) with a Rydberg state. Traditional methods relying on fluorescence or absorption encounter challenges with weak or non-closed optical transitions due to a limited maximum number of scattered photons. Our method enables single-shot, minimally destructive imaging of individual impurities (ion or Rydberg atom) in an atomic gas. Utilizing the homodyne detection technique, we achieve rapid imaging in a few microseconds. Recent advancements include resolving a linear chain of Rydberg superatoms in a one-dimensional configuration, demonstrating dipole blockade effects and long-range ordering. This imaging technique holds promise for advancing ensemble-encoded qubits in quantum computation and simulation applications. The talk also introduces our study on the effective interaction between telecom wavelength optical photons and microwave photons using Rydberg states in a hot atomic vapor, with potential applications in integrating wireless and fiber-optical networks for quantum information processing.

Dr. Jinjin Du is a Staff Scientist at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST). He earned his PhD in Physics from Shanxi University in 2015 and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at various institutions, including OIST, the University of Waterloo (IQC), and the National University of Singapore (CQT). Dr. Du is an experimental physicist specializing in atomic physics and quantum optics, with a focus on diverse cold atom systems. His research encompasses cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) with trapped neutral atoms, optical waveguide interfacing with cold atoms, and the cold hybrid Rydberg-Ion atom system for quantum information science.