Photon-mediated dipole–dipole interactions as a resource for quantum science and technology in cold atoms

Abstract Photon-mediated dipole–dipole interactions arise from atom-light interactions, which are universal and prevalent in a wide range of open quantum systems. This pairwise and long-range spin-exchange interaction results from multiple light scattering among the atoms. A recent surge of interests and progresses in both experiments and theories promises this core mechanism of collective interactions as a resource to study quantum science and to envision next-generation applications in quantum technology. Here we summarize recent developments in both theories and experiments, where we introduce several central theoretical approaches and focus on cooperative light scattering from small sample of free-space atoms, an atom-waveguide coupled interface that hosts the waveguide QED, and topological quantum optical platforms. The aim of this review is to manifest the essential and distinct features of collective dynamics induced by resonant dipole–dipole interactions and to reveal unprecedented opportunities in enhancing the performance or offering new applications in light manipulations, quantum metrology, quantum computations, and light harvesting innovations.