Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2312.01974 · Physical Review Applied

Polarization-insensitive microwave electrometry using Rydberg atoms

Matthew Cloutman, Matthew Chilcott, Alexander Elliott, J. Susanne Otto, Amita B. Deb, Niels Kjærgaard

Published Apr 12, 2024• 25 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We investigate the Autler-Townes splitting for Rydberg atoms dressed with linearly polarized microwave radiation, resonant with generic ${S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}{P}_{1/2}$ and ${S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}{P}_{3/2}$ transitions. The splitting is probed using laser light via electromagnetically induced transparency measurements, where the transmission of probe laser light reveals a two-peak pattern. In particular, this pattern is invariant under rotation of the microwave field polarization. In consequence, we establish $S\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}P$ Rydberg transitions as ideally suited for polarization-insensitive electrometry, contrary to recent findings [A. Chopinaud and J. D. Pritchard, Phys. Rev. Appl. 16, 024008 (2021)].

DOI
10.1103/physrevapplied.21.044025

Related papers

Nonlinearity of Microwave Electric Field Coupled Rydberg Electromagnetically Induced Transparency and Autler-Townes Splitting

Liping Hao, Yongmei Xue, Jiabei Fan +3 more

An electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) of a cascade-three-level atom involving Rydberg level in a room-temperature cell, formed with a cesium 6S 1 / 2-6P 3 / 2-66 S 1 / 2 scheme, is employed to detect the Autler-Townes (AT) splitting resulted with a 15.21-GHz microwave field coupling the 66 S 1 / 2 → 65 P 1 / 2 transition. Microwave field induced AT splitting, f A T, is characterized by the distance of peak-to-peak of an EIT-AT spectrum. The f A T dependence on the microwave Rabi frequency, Ω M W , demonstrates two regions, the strong-coupling linear region, f A T ≈ Ω M W and the weak-coupling nonlinear region, f A T ≲ Ω M W. The f A T dependencies on the probe and coupling Rabi frequency are also investigated. Using small probe- and coupling-laser, the Rabi frequency is found to enlarge the linear regime and decrease the uncertainty of the microwave field measurements. The measurements agree with the calculations based on a four-level atomic model.

Applied Sciences•Apr 25, 2019•11 citations

Simultaneously measuring microwave electric fields at different frequencies by Rydberg-atom-based electrometry with Zeeman-resolved Autler–Townes splitting

Yuxiang Wang, Yuqing Liu, Qianyi Zhang +5 more

We provide the simultaneous traceable measurements of microwave electric fields at two different frequencies by the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and Autler–Townes (AT) splitting. A static magnetic field working together with a linearly polarized probe and coupling light prepares Rydberg atoms in Zeeman sublevels with maximal |mJ| in an atomic vapor cell. Using the EIT-AT splitting of these two maximal |mJ| states, the microwave electric fields at two different frequencies are simultaneously measured, in which their frequency difference can be adjustable within the linear range of magnetic field-induced level shifts. The proposed method provides a promising prospect for calibrating multiple microwave frequencies simultaneously in the future.

AIP Advances•Oct 1, 2024•4 citations

Span shift and extension of quantum microwave electrometry with Rydberg atoms dressed by an auxiliary microwave field

Feng-Dong Jia, Xiubin Liu, Jiong Mei +7 more

The Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT)--Autler Townes (AT) splitting proportional to the target microwave electric field strength is an atom-based primary traceable standard in microwave electrometry. The minimum detected microwave electric field is limited when the EIT-AT splitting is indistinguishable. We design a method for auxiliary microwave-dressed Rydberg atoms that extends the electrometric span. We theoretically and experimentally show that the low bound of the direct SI-traceable microwave electric field is extended by two orders of magnitude, which is from several mV/cm to $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{cm}$ in a room-temperate Rb cell with a modest setup.

Physical Review A•Jun 24, 2021•68 citations

Microwave electric field sensing with Rydberg atoms

Daniel T. Stack, Paul D. Kunz, David H. Meyer +1 more

Atoms form the basis of precise measurement for many quantities (time, acceleration, rotation, magnetic field, etc.). Measurements of microwave frequency electric fields by traditional methods (i.e. engineered antennas) have limited sensitivity and can be difficult to calibrate properly. Highly-excited (Rydberg) neutral atoms have very large electric-dipole moments and many dipole allowed transitions in the range of 1 - 500 GHz. It is possible to sensitively probe the electric field in this range using the combination of two quantum interference phenomena: electromagnetically induced transparency and the Autler-Townes effect. This technique allows for very sensitive field amplitude, polarization, and sub-wavelength imaging measurements. These quantities can be extracted by measuring properties of a probe laser beam as it passes through a warm rubidium vapor cell. Thus far, Rydberg microwave electrometry has relied upon the absorption of the probe laser. We report on our use of polarization rotation, which corresponds to the real part of the susceptibility, for measuring the properties of microwave frequency electric fields. Our simulations show that when a magnetic field is present and directed along the optical propagation direction a polarization rotation signal exists and can be used for microwave electrometry. One central advantage in using the polarization rotation signal rather than the absorption signal is that common mode laser noise is naturally eliminated leading to a potentially dramatic increase in signal-to-noise ratio.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•May 19, 2016•3 citations

Extending bandwidth sensitivity of Rydberg-atom-based microwave electrometry using an auxiliary microwave field

Yue Cui, Feng-Dong Jia, Jianhai Hao +13 more

We demonstrate the use of an auxiliary microwave field to extend the bandwidth sensitivity of Rydberg-atom-based microwave electrometry. Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and Autler-Townes (AT) splitting in Rydberg atom microwave electrometry provide advantageous sensitivity for the resonant detection of microwave (MW) fields because the Stark shift of the target Rydberg state takes the linear form of AT splitting. However, the sensitivity is reduced by several orders of magnitude for detuned MW fields because the Stark shift of the target Rydberg state depends on a weak nonlinear effect. We show that the auxiliary microwave field with appropriate Rabi frequency or detuning could shift the atomic energy levels to bring a particular Rydberg-Rydberg transition of interest for microwave sensing into resonance with the target microwave field. Using the atomic superheterodyne method, we verified the general method that regulates Rydberg energy levels using an auxiliary microwave field. The experimental results of this study confirm that this technique works efficiently for detecting microwave fields detuned by up to 100 MHz from resonance with the field-free Rydberg-Rydberg transition used for sensing. The measurement sensitivity of the detuned target field is increased by a factor of 10 compared with that achieved without the application of the auxiliary dressing field.

Physical Review A•Apr 3, 2023•47 citations

Rydberg atom-based microwave electrometry using polarization spectroscopy

Naomy Duarte Gomes, Vinícius M. Pepino, Ben‐Hur V. Borges +5 more

Abstract In this study, we investigated Rydberg atom-based microwave (MW) electrometry using polarization spectroscopy in a room-temperature vapor cell. By measuring Autler-Townes splitting in the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) spectrum, we determined that the minimum measurable MW electric field is approximately five times lower than conventional EIT techniques. The results are well reproduced by a full optical Bloch equation model, which takes into account all the hyperfine levels involved. Subsequently, the EIT setup was used to characterize a custom MW cylindrical lens, which increases the field at the focus by a factor of three, decreasing the minimum measurable MW electric field by the same amount. Our results indicate that the combination of polarization spectroscopy and a MW lens may enhance MW electrometry, and may allow its use as a secondary standard.

arXiv:2407.20433•Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Oct 22, 2024•3 citations
We investigate the Autler-Townes splitting for Rydberg atoms dressed with linearly polarized microwave radiation, resonant with generic S1/2\ensuremath↔P1/2{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}{P}_{1/2}S1/2​\ensuremath↔P1/2​ and S1/2\ensuremath↔P3/2{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}{P}_{3/2}S1/2​\ensuremath↔P3/2​ transitions. The splitting is probed using laser light via electromagnetically induced transparency measurements, where the transmission of probe laser light reveals a two-peak pattern. In particular, this pattern is invariant under rotation of the microwave field polarization. In consequence, we establish S\ensuremath↔PS\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}PS\ensuremath↔P Rydberg transitions as ideally suited for polarization-insensitive electrometry, contrary to recent findings [A. Chopinaud and J. D. Pritchard, Phys. Rev. Appl. 16, 024008 (2021)].
An electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) of a cascade-three-level atom involving Rydberg level in a room-temperature cell, formed with a cesium 6S 1 / 2-6P 3 / 2-66 S 1 / 2 scheme, is employed to detect the Autler-Townes (AT) splitting resulted with a 15.21-GHz microwave field coupling the 66 S 1 / 2 → 65 P 1 / 2 transition. Microwave field induced AT splitting, f A T, is characterized by the distance of peak-to-peak of an EIT-AT spectrum. The f A T dependence on the microwave Rabi frequency, Ω M W , demonstrates two regions, the strong-coupling linear region, f A T ≈ Ω M W and the weak-coupling nonlinear region, f A T ≲ Ω M W. The f A T dependencies on the probe and coupling Rabi frequency are also investigated. Using small probe- and coupling-laser, the Rabi frequency is found to enlarge the linear regime and decrease the uncertainty of the microwave field measurements. The measurements agree with the calculations based on a four-level atomic model.
We provide the simultaneous traceable measurements of microwave electric fields at two different frequencies by the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and Autler–Townes (AT) splitting. A static magnetic field working together with a linearly polarized probe and coupling light prepares Rydberg atoms in Zeeman sublevels with maximal |mJ| in an atomic vapor cell. Using the EIT-AT splitting of these two maximal |mJ| states, the microwave electric fields at two different frequencies are simultaneously measured, in which their frequency difference can be adjustable within the linear range of magnetic field-induced level shifts. The proposed method provides a promising prospect for calibrating multiple microwave frequencies simultaneously in the future.
The Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT)--Autler Townes (AT) splitting proportional to the target microwave electric field strength is an atom-based primary traceable standard in microwave electrometry. The minimum detected microwave electric field is limited when the EIT-AT splitting is indistinguishable. We design a method for auxiliary microwave-dressed Rydberg atoms that extends the electrometric span. We theoretically and experimentally show that the low bound of the direct SI-traceable microwave electric field is extended by two orders of magnitude, which is from several mV/cm to $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{cm}$ in a room-temperate Rb cell with a modest setup.
Atoms form the basis of precise measurement for many quantities (time, acceleration, rotation, magnetic field, etc.). Measurements of microwave frequency electric fields by traditional methods (i.e. engineered antennas) have limited sensitivity and can be difficult to calibrate properly. Highly-excited (Rydberg) neutral atoms have very large electric-dipole moments and many dipole allowed transitions in the range of 1 - 500 GHz. It is possible to sensitively probe the electric field in this range using the combination of two quantum interference phenomena: electromagnetically induced transparency and the Autler-Townes effect. This technique allows for very sensitive field amplitude, polarization, and sub-wavelength imaging measurements. These quantities can be extracted by measuring properties of a probe laser beam as it passes through a warm rubidium vapor cell. Thus far, Rydberg microwave electrometry has relied upon the absorption of the probe laser. We report on our use of polarization rotation, which corresponds to the real part of the susceptibility, for measuring the properties of microwave frequency electric fields. Our simulations show that when a magnetic field is present and directed along the optical propagation direction a polarization rotation signal exists and can be used for microwave electrometry. One central advantage in using the polarization rotation signal rather than the absorption signal is that common mode laser noise is naturally eliminated leading to a potentially dramatic increase in signal-to-noise ratio.
We demonstrate the use of an auxiliary microwave field to extend the bandwidth sensitivity of Rydberg-atom-based microwave electrometry. Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and Autler-Townes (AT) splitting in Rydberg atom microwave electrometry provide advantageous sensitivity for the resonant detection of microwave (MW) fields because the Stark shift of the target Rydberg state takes the linear form of AT splitting. However, the sensitivity is reduced by several orders of magnitude for detuned MW fields because the Stark shift of the target Rydberg state depends on a weak nonlinear effect. We show that the auxiliary microwave field with appropriate Rabi frequency or detuning could shift the atomic energy levels to bring a particular Rydberg-Rydberg transition of interest for microwave sensing into resonance with the target microwave field. Using the atomic superheterodyne method, we verified the general method that regulates Rydberg energy levels using an auxiliary microwave field. The experimental results of this study confirm that this technique works efficiently for detecting microwave fields detuned by up to 100 MHz from resonance with the field-free Rydberg-Rydberg transition used for sensing. The measurement sensitivity of the detuned target field is increased by a factor of 10 compared with that achieved without the application of the auxiliary dressing field.
Abstract In this study, we investigated Rydberg atom-based microwave (MW) electrometry using polarization spectroscopy in a room-temperature vapor cell. By measuring Autler-Townes splitting in the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) spectrum, we determined that the minimum measurable MW electric field is approximately five times lower than conventional EIT techniques. The results are well reproduced by a full optical Bloch equation model, which takes into account all the hyperfine levels involved. Subsequently, the EIT setup was used to characterize a custom MW cylindrical lens, which increases the field at the focus by a factor of three, decreasing the minimum measurable MW electric field by the same amount. Our results indicate that the combination of polarization spectroscopy and a MW lens may enhance MW electrometry, and may allow its use as a secondary standard.