Collection Overview

Scientific Reports has launched a Guest-Edited Collection on Rydberg state of atoms.

Excited atoms under a high energy level, termed as Rydberg atoms, possess exceptional characteristics (e.g., size and dipole moment), which are contingent on their principal quantum numbers. Despite that relevant studies can be traced back to more than 100 years ago, the recent focus on investigating the collective interactions among Rydberg atoms found this old concept useful in many emergent applications, such as sensing and quantum computing. Understanding the mechanisms and effects of long-range interactions of Rydberg atoms and developing effective means to control the interactions hold the key to exploring novel characteristics of Rydberg atoms and exploiting them to drive new avenues of research.

This will be a Collection of original research papers and will be open for submissions from all authors – on the condition that the manuscripts fall within the scope of the Collection and of Scientific Reports more generally. We are welcoming submissions until 6th February 2026.

Why is this Collection important? 

"In recent years, Rydberg atoms have emerged as important subjects in quantum physics and technology, showing significant advancements. Their unique properties, including large electron orbits, long lifetimes, and strong interactions, make them ideal system for investigating the many-body physics, quantum computing, quantum optics, and precision metrology." - Jianming Zhao

"Rydberg atoms, which are neutral atoms occupying highly excited energy states, exhibit inherently strong electric dipole moments. This property renders them exceptionally sensitive to external electric fields, positioning them as promising candidates for high-performance quantum sensors with diverse applications. The prospect of leveraging Rydberg atoms in quantum metrology is particularly compelling, given their potential to enhance precision measurements. This Collection seeks to advance research in this field and foster interdisciplinary collaboration by disseminating findings in a multidisciplinary journal. Published articles will not only reach a broad scientific audience but may also inspire novel and unforeseen applications, further expanding the impact of Rydberg-atom-based technologies." - Luis Gustavo Marcassa

Why submit to a Collection? 

Collections like this one help promote high-quality science. They are led by Guest Editors, who are experts in their fields, and In-House Editors and are supported by a dedicated team of Commissioning Editors and Managing Editors at Springer Nature. Collection manuscripts typically see higher citations, downloads, and Altmetric scores, and provide a one-stop-shop on a cutting-edge topic of interest. 

Who is involved? 

Guest Editors:

• Luis Gustavo Marcassa, University of São Paulo, Brazil
• Jianming Zhao, Shanxi University, China

Internal Team:

• In-House Editor: Silvia Butera, Scientific Reports, UK
• Commissioning Editor: Robert Moran, Fully OA Brands, Springer Nature, UK
• Managing Editor: Rebecca Chan, Fully OA Brands, Springer Nature, UK

How can I submit my paper? 

Visit the Collection page to find out more about this Collection and how to submit your article.