arXiv:2407.20369 · Physical Review Applied

Complete three-dimensional vector polarimetry with a Rydberg-atom rf electrometer

Peter K. Elgee, Kevin C. Cox, Joshua C. Hill, Paul D. Kunz, David H. Meyer

Published Dec 3, 2024• 20 citations

Abstract

Radio-frequency (rf) receivers using Rydberg atoms offer appealing features over classical sensors, such as their size, frequency tuning range, and lack of field absorption. In this work, we extend the application space by demonstrating a Rydberg atom rf polarimeter. Using rf heterodyne with three independent and orthogonal local oscillators, we are able to extract the polarization ellipse of the field in three dimensions, in addition to the total amplitude of the field. We use the relative phases and amplitudes of the three generated heterodyne signals to measure the field amplitudes and phases along three cardinal axes giving the full three-dimensional polarization. We demonstrate this polarization measurement for incoming fields at different angles around the sensor. Lastly, we investigate the reception of data symbols encoded in the horizontal and vertical signal field polarizations and the phase between them. Our measurements yield an amplitude noise of $57\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{\ensuremath{\mu}}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$ for horizontal polarization, $66\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{\ensuremath{\mu}}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$ for vertical polarization, and a standard deviation of 0.094 rad in the phase between the field components.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevapplied.22.064012

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arXiv:2407.20369 · Physical Review Applied

Complete three-dimensional vector polarimetry with a Rydberg-atom rf electrometer

Peter K. Elgee, Kevin C. Cox, Joshua C. Hill, Paul D. Kunz, David H. Meyer

Published Dec 3, 2024• 20 citations

arXiv HTML PDF

Abstract

57\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{\ensuremath{\mu}}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}

for horizontal polarization,

66\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{\ensuremath{\mu}}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}

for vertical polarization, and a standard deviation of 0.094 rad in the phase between the field components.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevapplied.22.064012

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Electrically small Rydberg sensor for three-dimensional determination of radio-frequency k -vectors

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57\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{\ensuremath{\mu}}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}

for horizontal polarization,

66\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{\ensuremath{\mu}}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}

for vertical polarization, and a standard deviation of 0.094 rad in the phase between the field components.

\rm 43D_{5/2}

\rm 60S_{1/2}

, and

\rm 90S_{1/2}

. The sensitivity of 63 MHz for the

\rm 90S_{1/2}

state reaches 0.96

μ\rm V/cm/\sqrt{Hz}

that is about an order of magnitude higher than those already published. This result closely approaches the theoretical sensitivity limit of RF dipole antennas, and indicates the potential for breaking the limit in measuring sub-MHz E-fields. This atomic sensor based on Rydberg Stark effect with heterodyne technique is expected to boost an alternative solution to electric dipole antennas.

{\rm 43D}_{5/2}

{\rm 60S}_{1/2}

, and

{\rm 90S}_{1/2}

. The sensitivity of 63 MHz for the

{\rm 90S}_{1/2}

state reaches 9.6

\times 10^{-5}\rm \,V/m/\sqrt {Hz}

, which is approximately an order of magnitude higher than those already published. This result closely approaches the sensitivity limit of a 1 cm passive dipole antenna without using an impedance matching network. This atomic sensor based on the Rydberg Stark effect with heterodyne technique is expected to boost an alternative solution to electric dipole antennas.

35s

and

35p

Rydberg states of helium atoms in a pulsed supersonic beam. Based on this experimental result, we develop a general framework in the form of a set of equations relating the five independent polarization parameters of a coherently oscillating field in a fixed laboratory frame to Rabi rates of transitions between a ground and three excited states of an atom with arbitrary quantization axis. We then explain how these equations can be used to fully characterize the polarization in a minimum of five Rabi-rate measurements by rotation of an external bias field, or, knowing the polarization of the driving field, to determine the orientation of the static field using two measurements. The presented technique is not limited to Rydberg atoms and rf fields but can also be applied to characterize optical fields. The technique has the potential for sensing the spatiotemporal properties of electromagnetic fields, e.g., in metrology devices or in hybrid experiments involving atoms close to surfaces.