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arXiv:2608.04660

Photo-ionization Compensation of Stray Electric Fields for Cold Rydberg Atoms

Z Y Chen, Z. -X. Fu, Z. -R He, Z Y Chen, S. -A. Cheng, J. -H. Liang, S. -C. Zhang, Y. -X. Du, C. Li

Published Aug 5, 2026• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Neurtal atoms in optical tweezer arrays constitute a highly promising platform for quantum computing and quantum simulation. Their operation relies on precise control of the Rydberg excitation, which is highly sensitive to background electric fields. Here, we identify a previously overlooked source of stray electric fields arising from trapped charges within the antireflection coating layers of glass vacuum cells. In contrast to the conventional approach of removing surface charges through ultraviolet-light-induced desorption, we compensate these clamped charges by generating additional charges via photo-ionization of a cold atomic ensemble. We verify the resulting suppression of stray electric fields through Rydberg excitation spectroscopy in an atomic array and further confirm that the residual electric field inside the vacuum cell is effectively eradicated with the aid of external electrodes. Our work identifies and mitigates a previously unrecognized source of residual electric field, providing a practical solution for improving the performance of neutral atomic quantum processors and other Rydberg-based quantum technologies, as well as surface-sensitive atomic systems.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2608.04660

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Neurtal atoms in optical tweezer arrays constitute a highly promising platform for quantum computing and quantum simulation. Their operation relies on precise control of the Rydberg excitation, which is highly sensitive to background electric fields. Here, we identify a previously overlooked source of stray electric fields arising from trapped charges within the antireflection coating layers of glass vacuum cells. In contrast to the conventional approach of removing surface charges through ultraviolet-light-induced desorption, we compensate these clamped charges by generating additional charges via photo-ionization of a cold atomic ensemble. We verify the resulting suppression of stray electric fields through Rydberg excitation spectroscopy in an atomic array and further confirm that the residual electric field inside the vacuum cell is effectively eradicated with the aid of external electrodes. Our work identifies and mitigates a previously unrecognized source of residual electric field, providing a practical solution for improving the performance of neutral atomic quantum processors and other Rydberg-based quantum technologies, as well as surface-sensitive atomic systems.
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Hybrid quantum platforms based on highly excited Rydberg atoms coupled to nanophotonics devices offer a promising route toward scalable quantum networks and integrated quantum technologies. However, the close proximity of Rydberg atoms to dielectric nanostructures makes these systems particularly susceptible to uncontrolled surface electric fields that can lead to a degradation of the excitation process. Here, we experimentally investigate Rydberg excitation of laser-cooled 87^{87}87Rb atoms via the evanescent field of an optical nanofiber in the presence of fiber-guided red- and blue-detuned light fields as used to trap ground state atoms in fiber-based dipole traps. We observe a time evolution of the Rydberg excitation spectrum when both the dipole trapping fields are on and the additional spectral features that appear can be suppressed by applying an external oscillating electric field to the system, strongly indicating that surface charge accumulation is responsible for the observed spectral feature. The experimental results are reproduced qualitatively by a model that incorporates DC energy level shifts arising from electric fields generated by charges deposited on the nanofiber surface. We identify Rydberg-ground state collisional ionization, which is enhanced by the dipole trapping fields, as the dominant mechanism for charge generation. These results provide new insight into charge dynamics at dielectric nanophotonic interfaces and establish practical guidelines for mitigating surface charge-induced electric fields in fiber-integrated Rydberg quantum systems.
Atoms excited to Rydberg states have recently emerged as a valuable resource in neutral atom platforms for quantum computation, quantum simulation, and quantum information processing. Atoms in Rydberg states have large polarizabilities, which makes them highly sensitive to electric fields. Therefore, stray electric fields can decohere these atoms, in addition to compromising the fidelity of engineered interactions between them. Therefore, it is essential to cancel these stray electric fields. Here, we present a novel, simple, and highly compact electrode assembly, implemented in a glass cell-based vacuum chamber design, for stray electric field cancellation. The electrode assembly allows for full 3D control of the electric field in the vicinity of the atoms while blocking almost no optical access. We experimentally demonstrate the cancellation of stray electric fields to better than 10 mV/cm using this electrode assembly.
Quantum computing and quantum simulation with ultracold neutral atoms require Rydberg excitation of individual atoms in atomic arrays. Rydberg states are extremely sensitive to external electric fields, therefore precise three-dimensional control of the electric field is essential. We performed a spectroscopic study of three-photon Rydberg excitation of a single Rb atom in an optical dipole trap in the presence of an external DC electric field. The field was generated by eight electrodes deposited on the inner surfaces of an ultrahigh-vacuum glass cell. The used three-photon scheme of laser excitation of Rydberg \textit{nP} states allows the Stark shift and the splitting of the resonances to be observed simultaneously, which simplifies calibration of the electric field. In addition, in the commonly used two-photon Rydberg excitation schemes, the light shifts can complicate accurate determination of the DC Stark shift, particularly when the external electric field is scanned across different spatial directions, and different Stark components are excited. These shifts are absent in the three-photon excitation scheme used in our experiment. We demonstrated the ability to independently tune the electric field along all three spatial directions and to compensate for stray electric fields. The measured three-photon spectra exhibit Stark shifts and splittings of the three-photon resonance that are in good agreement with theoretical calculations. These results are also of interest for Rydberg electrometry.
Atoms excited to Rydberg states have recently emerged as a valuable resource in neutral atom platforms for quantum computation, quantum simulation, and quantum information processing. Atoms in Rydberg states have large polarizabilities, making them highly sensitive to electric fields. Therefore, stray electric fields can decohere these atoms, in addition to compromising the fidelity of engineered interactions between them. It is therefore essential to cancel these stray electric fields. Here we present a novel, simple, and highly-compact electrode assembly, implemented in a glass cell-based vacuum chamber design, for stray electric field cancellation. The electrode assembly allows for full 3D control of the electric field in the vicinity of the atoms while blocking almost no optical access. We experimentally demonstrate the cancellation of stray electric fields to better than 10 mV/cm using this electrode assembly.