Coherent excitation of three-atom entangled states near a two-body F\"orster resonance

Abstract

We experimentally study three-body energy exchange during Rydberg excitation near a two-body F\"orster resonance. By varying the excitation pulse duration or Rabi frequency, we control the process that causes the exchange. We demonstrate the coherence of excitation to three-atom entangled states using an optical rotary echo technique, and compare with a model for excitation in a three-atom basis. Our results suggest a robust way to implement a three-body entangling operation.