Non-linear optics using cold Rydberg atoms

The implementation of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in a cold Rydberg gas provides an attractive route towards strong photon--photon interactions and fully deterministic all-optical quantum information processing. In this brief review we discuss the underlying principles of how large single photon non-linearities are achieved in this system and describe experimental progress to date.
Comment: 50 pages, 21 figures. Preprint of book chapter submitted to the Annual Review of cold atoms and molecules \copyright (2012) [copyright World Scientific Publishing Company]