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Applied Physics Letters

Detection of far-infrared radiation using Rydberg atoms

Theodore W. Ducas, William P. Spencer, A. Ganesh Vaidyanathan, William H. Hamilton, Daniel Kleppner

Published Sep 1, 1979• 45 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A new method for detecting far-infrared radiation is demonstrated. The far-infrared radiation induces transitions between highly excited (Rydberg) levels of Na. These transitions can be detected by selective field ionization. The method is capable of providing narrow-band detection with essentially continuous tuning throughout the infrared and far-infrared range. We have detected radiation from a laser source at 496 and 118 μ with a 1-MHz bandwidth. A noise equivalent power of 5×10−15 W/Hz1/2 was measured at 496 μ.

DOI
10.1063/1.91132

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A new method for detecting far-infrared radiation is demonstrated. The far-infrared radiation induces transitions between highly excited (Rydberg) levels of Na. These transitions can be detected by selective field ionization. The method is capable of providing narrow-band detection with essentially continuous tuning throughout the infrared and far-infrared range. We have detected radiation from a laser source at 496 and 118 μ with a 1-MHz bandwidth. A noise equivalent power of 5×10−15 W/Hz1/2 was measured at 496 μ.
An efficient technique for the detection of nartowband infrared radiation by up-conversion in an optically saturated atomic vapor is described. The strong transition cross sections provided by the resonance interactions combined with the narrow Doppler spectral response profile contribute to the potential to approach quantum-noise-limited performance. Experimental results confirm the model of the detection process for sodium transitions at 1.48, 2.34, and 3.42 μ. The predicted ultimate noise equivalent power (NEP) of this device is less than 10-17W/Hz1/2in the1.5-5-\muspectral region.
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.
The short-pulse dynamics of excitation and stimulated emission between highly excited states (15<n<60)(15<n<60)(15<n<60) is studied with picosecond far-infrared pulses (40--60 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$) originating from a free electron laser. We measured the excitation of a Rydberg wave packet in rubidium around n=40n=40n=40 excited from a deeper bound $(n\ensuremath{\approx}20)$ Rydberg state by a picosecond far-infrared laser pulse. Moreover, starting from a stationary n=40n=40n=40 state we found that upon irradiating with a short far-infrared laser pulse, adjacent Rydberg states are populated by resonant Raman transfer via a deeper (n=20)(n=20)(n=20) bound state. Finally, we discuss the dynamics of wave-packet excitation at a Cooper minimum in lithium, where sign change of the excitation matrix elements causes excitation at large distances from the atomic core. Possible measurement methods for this effect are discussed and found to yield different information.