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arXiv:2203.01733

The Origins of Rydberg Atom Electrometer Transient Response and its Impact on Radio Frequency Pulse Sensing

Stephanie M. Bohaichuk, Donald W. Booth, Kent A. Nickerson, Harry Tai, James P. Shaffer

Published Mar 3, 2022• 2 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Rydberg atoms have shown significant promise as the basis for highly sensitive detectors of continuous radio-frequency (RF) E-fields. Here, we study their time-dependent response to pulse-modulated RF E-fields at 19.4 GHz using a cesium vapour cell at room temperature. We use density matrix simulations to explain the time scales that shape the transient atomic response under different laser conditions, finding them to be limited by dephasing mechanisms including transit time broadening, Rydberg-Rydberg collisions, and ionization. Using a matched filter, we demonstrate the detection of individual pulses with durations from 10 $μ$s down to 50 ns and amplitudes from 15000 $μ$V cm$^{-1}$ down to ~170 $μ$V cm$^{-1}$, corresponding to a sensitivity of ~240 nV cm$^{-1}$ Hz$^{-1/2}$. Finally, we highlight the potential of a Rydberg vapour cell as a receiver by detecting pulse trains from a rotating emitter on a simulated passing aircraft.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2203.01733

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Rydberg atoms have shown significant promise as the basis for highly sensitive detectors of continuous radio-frequency (RF) E-fields. Here, we study their time-dependent response to pulse-modulated RF E-fields at 19.4 GHz using a cesium vapour cell at room temperature. We use density matrix simulations to explain the time scales that shape the transient atomic response under different laser conditions, finding them to be limited by dephasing mechanisms including transit time broadening, Rydberg-Rydberg collisions, and ionization. Using a matched filter, we demonstrate the detection of individual pulses with durations from 10 μμμs down to 50 ns and amplitudes from 15000 μμμV cm−1^{-1}−1 down to ~170 μμμV cm−1^{-1}−1, corresponding to a sensitivity of ~240 nV cm−1^{-1}−1 Hz−1/2^{-1/2}−1/2. Finally, we highlight the potential of a Rydberg vapour cell as a receiver by detecting pulse trains from a rotating emitter on a simulated passing aircraft.
Rydberg atoms show significant promise as the basis for highly sensitive detectors of continuous radio-frequency (rf) electric fields (E fields). Here, we study their time-dependent response to pulse-modulated rf E fields at 19.4 GHz using a cesium vapor cell at room temperature. We use density-matrix simulations to explain the timescales that shape the transient atomic response under different laser conditions, finding them to be limited by dephasing mechanisms, including transit-time broadening, Rydberg-Rydberg collisions, and ionization. Using a matched filter, we demonstrate the detection of individual pulses with durations from 10 \textmu{}s down to 50 ns and amplitudes from 15 000 \textmu{}V ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ down to about 170 \textmu{}V ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, corresponding to a sensitivity of about 240 nV ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ ${\mathrm{Hz}}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$. Finally, we highlight the potential of a Rydberg vapor cell as a receiver by detecting pulse trains from a rotating emitter on a simulated passing aircraft.
In this work, we present theoretical and experimental data on detecting pulsed radio frequency fields. We focus on pulse arrival time detection accuracy. We measure two-photon Rydberg atom EIT in response to ~μs pulse-modulated radio-frequency signals resonant with a Rydberg-Rydberg transition, using a room temperature cesium vapor cell with the lasers locked on atomic resonances. We study the dependence of the atomic response on optical and radio-frequency Rabi frequencies as well as effects such as atomic collisions, ionization, and transit time broadening. We find good agreement with time-dependent simulations performed using a density matrix approach, with a dark state added to account for Rydberg atom decay. We present factors that can influence the sensitivity and timing precision of radio frequency pulses detected under these conditions. Such a system demonstrates potential for the detection of weak radio-frequency pulses in communications and radar applications.
Abstract We investigate the time dependence of atom-light and atom-RF field interactions in Rydberg electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) in a room-temperature and heated vapour cell. Quantum-optical transients are observed with rapid onset and dissolution of EIT induced by coupler-light pulses. The formulation and dissolution times of EIT, transient signals, and their dependencies on light intensities and Rydberg-atom density are studied. Simulations of pulsed EIT are performed by solving a time-dependent three-level master equation, whose results are in excellent agreement with experimental observations, including accurately reproducing quantum-optical transients observed at both onset and dissolution. We explore the time-dependent response of EIT to RF fields resonant with a Rydberg–Rydberg transition. An upper limit to the fundamental atom-RF field response time and instantaneous RF detection bandwidth with EIT-based sensors and receivers is established.
In this work, theoretical and experimental works on Rydberg-atom based radio-frequency (RF) sensors are presented. The results were obtained in close collaboration with the Quantum Valley Ideas Lab, whose goal is the miniaturization and prototyping of these sensors. The Rydberg-atom based RF sensors utilize lasers to coherently excite an atomic vapor in a vapor cell at room temperature to a highly excited Rydberg state, which is extremely sensitive to external environmental influences. In this work, Rydberg-atom based RF sensing is described as coherent multi-photon interference in the atom-light coupled system by introducing atom-light coherences. The presence of the RF wave influences the absorption of a probe laser propagating through the atomic medium. The atomic response of the Rydberg-atoms can be engineered by changing the atom-light coherences through laser power and frequency. Analytic expressions for the atomic response to the incident RF wave are derived in the weak probe limit and provide a deeper understanding of the underlying coherent multi-photon interference processes, which help to further tailor the Rydberg-atom for the purpose of the application. Good agreement with full numerical simulations of the Lindblad-master equation is found. An analysis of the various Doppler limits strongly motivates an excitation scheme where the effective wave vector mismatch on the Rydberg transition vanishes, as a promising candidate to achieve narrower spectral linewidths and, consequently, a higher sensitivity. The level structure of cesium presents a unique three-photon excitation scheme where residual Doppler shifts become comparable to the spectral linewidth of the coupling lasers. The experimental realization of this excitation scheme is demonstrated. A spectral linewidth of the Rydberg transition of 190 kHz is achieved. The measurements present the world record sensitivity, 45 nV/cm/Hz^1/2, for all-optical RF sensing with room temperature operation. These results make the three-photon excitation scheme a prime candidate for the next generation of Rydberg-atom based RF sensor prototypes. Finally, all-optical phase-sensitive RF detection is theoretically investigated in a closed-loop excitation scheme. An analytic expression is derived that intuitively describes the atomic response. Furthermore, it provides insights into the probe intensity dynamics that occur when the system is operated under finite detuning. These oscillatory dynamics allow for the extraction of the in- (I) and out- (Q) of-phase response to the RF wave, thereby enabling the simultaneous detection of the RF E-field amplitude and phase. A blueprint for the experimental realization is presented, and angle-of-arrival tolerances for the RF wave are estimated. A quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) sequence was modelled and the simultaneous extraction of the phase and amplitude of the RF wave of interest was successfully demonstrated.
We report on the development of detection methods for amplitude and phase of pulsed radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields with Rydberg atoms. We begin with an overview of the basic principles of Rydberg-atom-based sensing and measurement of RF electromagnetic fields. An overview of the underlying atomic physics and the method for amplitude as well as phase sensing of electromagnetic radiation with Rydberg atoms is provided. Atomic RF receivers using Rydberg atoms for analog and digital communications and sensing of modulated RF fields are discussed. Detection of pulse-modulated RF and time-domain RF pulse waveform imaging with a Rydberg-atom receiver are demonstrated. The transient response of the Rydberg-atom vapor to a modulated RF field is observed at the 10-nanosecond level, from which a new lower limit to the achievable instantaneous signal bandwidth of atomic RF receivers is established. Finally, we present and describe a new method to measure the phase of an RF field implemented to not require an RF reference wave. The method employs phase-coherent excitation pathways involving the optical fields in the atomic sensing medium with the signal RF field. The optical RF phase-sensing approach lends itself to the realization of atomic RF sensors, measurement and imaging devices that are relevant to applications in RF communications and sensing.
Quantum Rydberg atom-based radio frequency (RF) sensors exploit the exceptional sensitivity of highly excited atomic states to detect electromagnetic fields with very high precision, offering potential advances in telecommunications, radar and microwave radiometer systems, GNSS-Reflectometers, and electromagnetic compatibility testing. This study presents a detailed MATLAB simulation analysis of radio-frequency sensors modeled as a five-level rubidium-87 (Rb-87) system under the influence of RF and optical fields. The simulation leverages the Lindblad master equation to capture the coherent evolution, the spontaneous emission, the collisional dephasing, and the field-induced ionization. For an external RF electric field of E0 = 100 mV/m, a frequency sweep from 10MHz to 10GHz reveals the impact of noise: an ideal case just limited by quantum noise yields a sensitivity of 0.01 µV/m/ v Hz and a SNR of 177dB, while for E0 = 10 mV/m and a realistic noise (-130 dBm/Hz) the sensitivity worsens to 72 - 633 µV/m/ v Hz and a SNR of 72 dB. The study investigates the effects of RF field amplitude, atom density, and environmental parameters such as residual magnetic field and ambient temperature, in the sensitivity and bandwidth of these promising receivers, offering a framework to optimize Rydberg-based sensing technologies for Earth Observation, Communication and Navigation systems.