ITAMP Lunch Seminar Speaker: Callum Murray (Aarhus University) Date: Thursday, September 7th Time: 12:00-1:00 pm Includes Pizza. Title: Coherent photon interactions with Rydberg polaritons Abstract: Coupling light to ensembles of Rydberg atoms has emerged as a particularly powerful approach to quantum nonlinear optics at the level of single photons. Here, photons are converted into strongly interacting Rydberg polaritons, which are coherent superpositions of light and matter. However, with the conventional approach to Rydberg quantum optics, the emerging photon interactions are intrinsically dissipative, a feature that ultimately hinders many practical applications. In this talk, I will discuss a new approach to Rydberg quantum optics based on an entirely different underlying mechanism that allows for coherent photon interactions with drastically suppressed losses. The implications of this for certain practical applications will then be discussed, and compared to previous methods. Location: B-106 @ Center for Astrophysics (60 Garden Street) Directions: After entering the lobby of the CfA, turn right to enter the hallway of the B building. In the hallway, turn right again, B-106 will be at the end of the hallway on the left side.