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Realization of a Cavity-Coupled Rydberg Array

Jacopo De Santis1,2,3,*, Balázs Dura-Kovács1,2,3,*, Mehmet Öncü1,2,3,*, Adrien Bouscal1,2,3,*, Dimitrios Vasileiadis1,3,4, and Johannes Zeiher1,2,3,†

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • †Contact author: johannes.zeiher@physik.uni-muenchen.de
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Phys. Rev. X 16, 041039 – Published 12 November, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/jgdt-d61y

Abstract

Scalable quantum computers and quantum networks require the combination of quantum processing nodes with efficient light-matter interfaces to distribute quantum information in local or long-distance quantum networks. Neutral-atom arrays have both been coupled to Rydberg states to enable high-fidelity quantum gates in universal processing architectures, and to optical cavities to realize interfaces to photons. However, combining these two capabilities and coupling atom arrays to highly excited Rydberg states in the mode of an optical cavity has been an outstanding challenge. Here we present a novel cavity-coupled Rydberg array that achieves this long-standing goal. We prepare, detect, and control individual atoms in a scalable optical tweezer array, couple them strongly to the optical mode of a high-finesse optical cavity and excite them in a controlled way to Rydberg states. We show that high-cooperativity coupling to an optical cavity—demonstrated via the dispersive shift of the resonance of the cavity in presence of the atoms—and strong Rydberg interactions—demonstrated via the collective enhancement of Rydberg coupling in the atomic array—can be achieved in our setup at the same spatial location. Our presented experimental platform opens the path to several new directions, including the realization of quantum network nodes, quantum simulation of long-range interacting, open quantum systems, and photonic-state engineering leveraging high-fidelity Rydberg control.

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Popular Summary

Scalable quantum computers and quantum networks require the combination of processing nodes that perform quantum logic with efficient light-matter interfaces that allow information exchange over long distances, but integrating both capabilities into a single device has been an outstanding challenge. We experimentally realize this integration by coupling individual atoms in a tweezer array to a high-cooperativity optical cavity and coherently exciting them to Rydberg states at the location of the cavity mode. By probing the dispersive shift of the cavity resonance and observing collective Rabi oscillations under Rydberg blockade, we show that atoms in our platform interact strongly with single photons while sustaining controllable multiqubit interactions. Our platform establishes an effective bridge between Rydberg-mediated gates and optical connectivity, providing a versatile foundation for distributed quantum processing nodes, photonic-state engineering, and quantum simulations of open, long-range interacting systems.

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Phys. Rev. X 16, 041039– Published 12 November, 2026
  • Received 20 February 2026
  • Accepted 2 October 2026
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