Rydberg Atom Blockade & Quantum Gate

Rydberg atoms excited to high principal quantum number n have enormous dipole-dipole interactions. When two atoms are within the blockade radius r_b, the doubly-excited state is energetically shifted, preventing simultaneous excitation. This enables fast entangling CZ gates in neutral-atom quantum computers.

Parameters

Principal quantum number n n = 50
Atom separation (μm) 4.0 μm
Laser Rabi freq Ω (MHz) 5.0 MHz
Blockade radius: – μm
In blockade: –
Interaction: – GHz

CZ Gate Protocol

|00⟩
CZ flips phase of |11⟩ component via blockade: atom 2 cannot be excited when atom 1 is in |r⟩ (Rydberg state).