Subpicosecond $X$ rotations of atomic clock states

Abstract

We demonstrate subpicosecond-time-scale population transfer between the pair of hyperfine ground states of atomic rubidium using a single laser-pulse. Our scheme utilizes the geometric and dynamic phases induced during Rabi oscillation through the fine-structure excited state in order to construct an $X$ rotation gate for the hyperfine-state qubit system. Experiment performed with a femtosecond laser and cold rubidium atoms, in a magneto-optical trap, shows over 98\% maximal population transfer between the clock states.