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  • Featured in Physics
  • Open Access

Nondestructive Optical Readout and Manipulation of Circular Rydberg Atoms

Y. Machu1, A. Durán-Hernández1, G. Creutzer1, A. A. Young1, J. M. Raimond1, M. Brune1, and C. Sayrin1,2,*

  • *Contact author: clement.sayrin@lkb.ens.fr
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Phys. Rev. X 16, 021040 – Published 20 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/st3l-14d7

Abstract

Among the thriving quantum computation and quantum simulation platforms based on arrays of Rydberg atoms, those using circular Rydberg atoms are particularly promising. These atoms uniquely combine the strong dipole-dipole interactions typical of Rydberg states with long lifetimes. However, low-angular-momentum (ℓ) laser-accessible Rydberg levels have been so far mostly used, because circular Rydberg atoms have no optical transitions, hindering their individual detection and manipulation. We remove this limitation with a hybrid platform, combining an array of data laser-trapped circular Rydberg atoms of rubidium with an auxiliary array of Rb ancilla atoms transiently excited to a low-ℓ Rydberg level. We perform a quantum nondemolition detection of the data qubit with the ancilla, through the blockade of the ancilla optical excitation induced by a Förster resonance. Conversely, we locally manipulate the data qubit through the excitation of the ancilla. This dual-Rydberg platform is highly promising for quantum computation and simulation. It adds to the circular-atom toolbox the midcircuit measurements, essential for error correction. More strikingly, it gives access to time correlations in long-term quantum simulations, uniquely accessible to circular Rydberg atoms.

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synopsis

A Quantum Simulator with Circular States

Published 20 May, 2026

Using atoms in two different highly excited states enables quantum bits that are both long-lived and manipulable.

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Quantum computation and simulation platforms based on neutral atoms require quantum systems that can be individually manipulated and measured, and that possess strong interparticle interactions and long lifetimes. We develop a hybrid platform combining an array of data qubits encoded in circular Rydberg levels with an auxiliary array of atoms transiently excited to low-angular-momentum Rydberg levels. The latter can be individually and optically manipulated and detected, and the former have natural lifetimes orders of magnitude longer. By relying on a resonant dipole-dipole interaction between the data and auxiliary qubits, we demonstrate local quantum nondemolition measurements of the circular Rydberg atoms and optical manipulation of their states. Our platform promises to enhance the performances of Rydberg-based quantum simulators, giving access to time correlations in long-term simulations otherwise limited by the short lifetimes of optically addressable Rydberg levels.

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Phys. Rev. X 16, 021040– Published 20 May, 2026
  • Received 24 October 2025
  • Accepted 3 April 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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