Quantum Information Processing: Rydberg Atoms

This lecture introduces Rydberg atoms as a platform for quantum information processing, focusing on highly excited states close to dissociation. The instructor explains how these atoms can be used to create a prototype of a quantum computer, including two-qubit gates and quantum simulation. The properties of Rydberg atoms, such as their scaling with the principal quantum number, are discussed in detail, emphasizing the importance of the electric dipole moment for light-matter interactions. The lecture concludes by highlighting the strong interaction between Rydberg atoms driven by lasers, leading to the generation of entangled states.