Strongly interacting quantum fluids of light in propagating geometries – SIQ-FLight

Impressive recent advances in quantum fluids of light have highlighted photonic systems as one of the most promising platforms to explore quantum many-body physics in a new context that takes full advantage of powerful manipulation and diagnostic tools offered by optical techniques. This project aims to explore a new regime where strongly interacting photons with exotic properties (long-range and nonlocal interactions) propagate inside gases of ultracold atoms. To reach this regime, we will map the strong interactions that exists between Rydberg atoms to the photons using Rydberg Electromagnetically-Induced Transparency. SIQ-FLight revolves around three specific objectives: (a) To develop and characterize this novel experimental platform (b) To measure the dispersion relation of quasiparticle excitations and study nonlinear optics in cold Rydberg gases (c) To explore quantum fluctuations by measuring the static structure factor of the photon gas. My background in quantum gases of ultracold atoms, quantum fluids of light and cooperative light scattering from cold atomic samples, both in experiment and theory, gives me the perfect tool set to tackle this highly exploratory subject. The project will additionally benefit from the fully operational experimental setup and the experience of the EQM group lead by S. Whitlock in optical trapping, Rydberg state manipulation and many-body physics. My success in this project will open up a new physical system for studying quantum fluids made of light at the interfaces of condensed matter physics, quantum gases, nonlinear optics and will provide a very promising route to realize ordered states of strongly interacting photons, including crystals and supersolids, as well as quantum information technologies. SIQ-Flight will reinforce my scientific independence and consolidate my present research activity by helping establish my own research line in Strasbourg.