  We propose a new all-optical method to image individual atoms within dense
atomic gases. The scheme exploits interaction induced shifts on highly
polarizable excited states, which can be spatially resolved via an
electromagnetically induced transparency resonance. We focus in particular on
imaging strongly interacting many-body states of Rydberg atoms embedded in an
ultracold gas of ground state atoms. Using a realistic model we show that it is
possible to image individual impurity atoms with enhanced sensitivity and high
resolution despite photon shot noise and atomic density fluctuations. This new
imaging scheme is ideally suited to equilibrium and dynamical studies of
complex many-body phenomena involving strongly interacting atoms. As an example
we study blockade effects and correlations in the distribution of Rydberg atoms
optically excited from a dense gas.
