Colloquium: Dr. Qi-Yu Liang | Purdue University

TITLE:  Quantum and machine learning enhanced sensing with Rydberg atoms

ABSTRACT: How can quantum phenomena and machine learning expand our ability to detect physical signals? Our group studies this question using laser-cooled Rydberg atoms, which interact strongly with one another and with external fields.  We seek to turn these interactions into a resource for measurement, allowing atoms to work collectively to reveal signals that are difficult to detect individually. Our research asks how quantum correlations can enhance this process and how machine learning can help us discover and extract information hidden in complex atomic responses. Beyond sensing external signals, these interactions may also allow us to probe and influence the internal dynamics of quantum systems. I will discuss how these ideas motivate our experiments and our pursuit of new capabilities in quantum sensing.