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arXiv:2212.03304 · Journal of Applied Physics

Detection of 3–300 MHz electric fields using Floquet sideband gaps by “Rabi matching” dressed Rydberg atoms

Andrew P. Rotunno, Samuel Berweger, Nikunjkumar Prajapati, Matthew T. Simons, Alexandra B. Artusio‐Glimpse, Christopher L. Holloway, Maitreyi Jayaseelan, R. M. Potvliege, Charles S. Adams

Published Oct 2, 2023• 15 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Radio frequencies in high-frequency (HF) and very high-frequency (VHF) bands (3–300 MHz) are challenging for Rydberg atom-based detection schemes, as resonant detection requires exciting atoms to extremely high energy states. We demonstrate a method for detecting and measuring radio frequency carriers in these bands via a controlled Autler–Townes line splitting. Using a resonant 18 GHz field, the absorption signal from Townes–Merritt sidebands created by a relatively low-frequency, non-resonant field can be enhanced. Notably, this technique uses a measurement of optical frequency separation of an avoided crossing to determine the amplitude of a non-resonant field. This technique also provides frequency-selective measurements of electric fields in the hundreds of MHz range with resolution of order 10 MHz. To show this, we demonstrate amplitude-modulated signal transduction on a MHz-range carrier. We further demonstrate reception of multiple tones simultaneously, creating a Rydberg “spectrum analyzer.”

DOI
10.1063/5.0162101

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Radio frequencies in high-frequency (HF) and very high-frequency (VHF) bands (3–300 MHz) are challenging for Rydberg atom-based detection schemes, as resonant detection requires exciting atoms to extremely high energy states. We demonstrate a method for detecting and measuring radio frequency carriers in these bands via a controlled Autler–Townes line splitting. Using a resonant 18 GHz field, the absorption signal from Townes–Merritt sidebands created by a relatively low-frequency, non-resonant field can be enhanced. Notably, this technique uses a measurement of optical frequency separation of an avoided crossing to determine the amplitude of a non-resonant field. This technique also provides frequency-selective measurements of electric fields in the hundreds of MHz range with resolution of order 10 MHz. To show this, we demonstrate amplitude-modulated signal transduction on a MHz-range carrier. We further demonstrate reception of multiple tones simultaneously, creating a Rydberg “spectrum analyzer.”
We investigate and employ optical Rydberg resonances in an atomic vapor cell for measurements of high-intensity VHF-band radio frequency (rf) electric fields. An atomic vapor cell with integrated electrodes is used to generate high-intensity 50--500 MHz rf electric fields reaching $\ensuremath{\sim}5$ kV/m in a submillimeter gap. The fields are measured using Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency as an optical readout of field-sensitive 30DJ30{D}_{J}30DJ​ and 35DJ35{D}_{J}35DJ​ Rydberg states of atoms within the gap. The rf electric field is determined by matching observed spectroscopic markers, including ac level shifts, even-harmonic rf sidebands, and rf-induced avoided crossings in the Rydberg manifold to calculated spectra derived from a nonperturbative Floquet theory. In our measurements, rf field frequencies and electric-field amplitudes are determined to an accuracy of 1.01.0%1.0 and 1.51.5%1.5, respectively. In the atom-field interaction, we observe a transition from a quantum regime, characterized by discrete even-harmonic Floquet states separated by an even multiple of the rf field frequency, into a semiclassical regime at very strong fields, in which the spectrum exhibits unresolved resonances whose strengths are smoothly modulated at a frequency of approximately five times the rf frequency. The underlying physics is explored.
We demonstrate the use of multiple atomic-level Rydberg-atom schemes for continuous frequency detection of radio-frequency (RF) fields. Resonant detection of RF fields by electromagnetically induced transparency and Autler-Townes (AT) splitting in Rydberg atoms is typically limited to frequencies within the narrow bandwidth of a Rydberg transition. By applying a second field resonant with an adjacent Rydberg transition, far-detuned fields can be detected through a two-photon resonance AT splitting. This two-photon AT splitting method is several orders of magnitude more sensitive than off-resonant detection using the Stark shift. We present the results of various experimental configurations and a theoretical analysis to illustrate the effectiveness of this multiple level scheme. These results show that this approach allows for the detection of frequencies in a continuous band between resonances with adjacent Rydberg states.
Recent advances in Rydberg-atom electrometry detail promising applications in radio frequency communications. Presently, most applications use carrier frequencies greater than 1 GHz where resonant Autler–Townes splitting provides the highest sensitivity. This letter documents a series of experiments with Rydberg atomic sensors to collect and process waveforms from the automated identification system (AIS) used in maritime navigation in the very high frequency (VHF) band. Detection in this band is difficult with conventional resonant Autler–Townes based Rydberg sensing and requires a new approach. We show the results of a method called high angular momentum matching excited Raman (HAMMER), which enhances low frequency detection and exhibits superior sensitivity compared to the traditional AC Stark effect. From measurements of electromagnetically induced transparency in rubidium and cesium vapor cells, we show the relationship between incident electric field strength and observed signal-to-noise ratio and find that the sensitivity of the HAMMER scheme in rubidium achieved an equivalent single VHF tone sensitivity of 100μV/m/Hz. With these results, we estimate the usable range of the atomic vapor cell antenna for AIS waveforms given current technology and detection techniques.
Rydberg atoms have been used for measuring radio-frequency (RF) electric (E)-fields due to their strong dipole moments over the frequency range of 500 MHz-1 THz. For this, electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) within the Autler-Townes (AT) regime is used such that the detected E-field is proportional to AT splitting. However, for weak E-fields AT peak separation becomes unresolvable thus limiting the minimum detectable E-field. Here, we demonstrate using the Rydberg atoms as an RF mixer for weak E-field detection well below the AT regime with frequency discrimination better than 1 Hz resolution. A heterodyne detection scenario with two E-fields incident on a vapor cell filled with cesium atoms is used. One E-field at 19.626000 GHz drives the 34D5/2 → 35P3/2 Rydberg transition and acts as a local oscillator (LO) and a second signal E-field (Sig) of interest is at 19.626090 GHz. In the presence of the LO, the Rydberg atoms naturally down convert the Sig field to a 90 kHz intermediate frequency (IF) signal. This IF signal manifests as an oscillation in the probe laser intensity through the Rydberg vapor and is easily detected with a photodiode and lock-in amplifier. In the configuration used here, E-field strength down to ≈ 46 μV/m ± 2 μV/m were detected with a sensitivity of ≈ 79 μVm−1Hz−1/2. Furthermore, neighboring fields 0.1 Hz away and equal in strength to Sig could be discriminated without any leakage into the lock-in signal. For signals 1 Hz away and as high as +60 dB above Sig, leakage into the lock-in signal could be kept below -3 dB.
Rydberg atomic electric-field sensors, under the framework of optical excitation and readout, can overcome the size-to-wavelength constraint imposed by the Chu limit. However, their sensitivity for decametric-wavelength shortwave electric fields is substantially lower than that for microwave ones, stemming from the off-resonant nature of low-frequency signals with Rydberg transitions. Here, we demonstrate a high-sensitivity heterodyne shortwave sensor based on microwave-dressed Rydberg atoms, leveraging precisely modulated Floquet sidebands. Around local- and microwave-field-engineered Floquet sidebands, the steep response gradient, arising from the enhanced atom-shortwave interaction through additionally created coherent channels, induces pronounced amplification of the heterodyne intermediate-frequency signal. As a result, compared to the same atomic heterodyne setup without microwave modulation, such Floquet-sideband-enhanced shortwave measurement boosts the sensitivity by four orders of magnitude, yielding a sensitivity of -122.7 dBm/Hz for shortwave at 30 MHz. This work offers a potential route to high-sensitive portable shortwave receivers in radio astronomy, radar and long-distance communications.
We have shown that Rydberg atoms can be used for high-sensitivity, absolute sensing of radio frequency (RF) electric fields. We achieved a sensitivity of 3 μVcm-1Hz-1/2 for two read-out strategies. Results using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer2 and frequency modulated spectroscopy both achieve similar photon shot noise limited sensitivity. Fundamental limits to the sensitivity of the Rydberg atom-based RF electric field sensing have been addressed. Depending on the spectral resolution of the read-out, either the RF induced transmission line frequency splitting, the Autler-Townes regime, or a change in the on-resonant absorption, the amplitude regime, can be used to determine the RF electric field. Here, we present theoretical results of a 3-photon read-out scheme which enables the Autler-Townes regime of Rydberg atom-based RF electrometry to be extended to lower RF electric field strengths. We show that the residual Doppler shifts can, in principle, be reduced to ~11.8 kHz, on the order of the Rydberg atom natural lindewidths, using the approach.