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Journal of Applied Physics

Small and sensitive systems interacting with millimeter and submillimeter waves: Rydberg atoms in a cavity

P. Goy, J. M. Raimond, S. Haroche, M. Groß

Published Aug 1, 1984• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A small number N (105≥N≥1) of sodium atoms in an atomic beam are prepared by pulsed laser excitation in a nS Rydberg level (n≂30) while transversing a millimeter wave Fabry–Perot cavity tuned to a transition connecting the nS state to a nearby n′P level. The atoms absorb the radiation in the cavity (nS→nP upward transition), or amplify it in a maser process [nS→(n−1)P, nS→(n−2)P... downward transition]. Due to the huge size of the electric dipole matrix element between nearby Rydberg levels, the system is extremely sensitive to the millimeter wave radiation field (enhanced by the tuned cavity) in both absorption and emission processes. Simple numerical expressions are given. The experiments demonstrate that the system can be used as an absolute power meter, an ultrasensitive millimeter photon counter, an absolute quantum thermometer, and a transient millimeter-wave amplifier.

DOI
10.1063/1.333991

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The operation of maser devices using highly excited Rydberg atoms as active medium is investigated. These systems, working in a transient regime reminiscent of super-radiance generate few-hundred-ns-long bursts of mm-wave radiation. They are characterized by extremely low inversion density thresholds (${N}_{0}\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{4}$ atoms typically) and very small peak power outputs (in the ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}$- to ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$-watt range). This study is interesting in the context of new tests of super-radiance and electrodynamics theory. It also opens new possibilities in the important domain of mm-wave amplification and detection. In this paper, we present a simple semiclassical theory of transient Rydberg maser operation and we report the experimental observation of a large number of maser emission lines on Na atoms, spanning a wide frequency interval ($60<\ensuremath{\nu}<950$ GHz). The technique used to monitor the emission is the indirect field ionization procedure which reveals fast radiative transfers occurring between Rydberg levels. Another method involving the direct detection of the maser radiation by a heterodyne receiver is described in a subsequent paper, along with a report on the investigation of various effects related to the triggering of the transient maser emission by external radiation.

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Abstract Various experiments involving very excited atoms and millimetre-wave photons are described, including high-resolution spectroscopy of Rydberg transitions, Rabi nutation and transient maser action between Rydberg levels. The large number of extremely narrow Rydberg spectral lines observed throughout the millimetre-wave spectrum provide a very good ‘calibration' of the scale of Rydberg levels of Na and Cs near the ionization limit, which could be used for the realization of precise infrared frequency markers. The observation of Rabi nutation and maser signals involving an unusually small absolute number of atoms and photons reveals the very great strength of the Rydberg atom to radiation coupling and is a clear indication that these atoms could be used as extremely sensitive millimetre-wave detectors. At a more fundamental level, the study of transient Rydberg masers provides a test of superradiance theory. Extrapolation of these maser experiments to the investigation of a situation where a single atom would exchange a single millimetre-wave photon with a resonant cavity is considered.

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We present various experiments involving Rydberg atoms interacting with resonant microwave electromagnetic fields inside a cavity, allowing to check different features of the theory presented in the previous paper. We first describe experiments about superradiant emission by Rydberg states in the cavity, also called transient Rydberg atoms maser ; the evolution of the system is detected either on the populations by selective field ionization technique or on the microwave field itself by heterodyne detection. Very low thresholds, down to 100 atoms, for the maser emission have been observed. We then describe various aspects of collective absorption of radiation by very excited atoms including the observation of Rabi nutation in a small applied resonant field, the study of the quantum efficiency of this set-up considered as a microwave photon counter, and finally the unexpected characteristics of the blackbody radiation absorption in the cavity.

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P. Goy, L. Moi, M. Groß +3 more

The "triggering" of transient maser systems using excited Rydberg atoms as active medium is investigated theoretically and experimentally. We show how the maser pulse characteristics are modified by the interaction of the active medium with small amounts of resonant mm-wave radiation. The phase, polarization, and emission delay of the radiated field are modified by this triggering: this can be used to detect very small powers of mm-or sub-mm-wave radiation. A complete discussion of the quantum and thermal noise of these detectors is presented. A demonstration of the feasibility of this technique is reported. Triggering signals corresponding to a detectivity of ${3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}$ ${\mathrm{W}/\mathrm{H}\mathrm{z}}^{1/2}$ at 108 GHz ($\ensuremath{\lambda}=2.8$ mm) have been measured at room temperature. The quantum-noise limit---corresponding to ${6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}10}^{\ensuremath{-}19}$ ${\mathrm{W}/\mathrm{H}\mathrm{z}}^{1/2}$---should be reached with liquid-helium-temperature-cooled detectors.

Physical Review A•Apr 1, 1983•42 citations
A small number N (105≥N≥1) of sodium atoms in an atomic beam are prepared by pulsed laser excitation in a nS Rydberg level (n≂30) while transversing a millimeter wave Fabry–Perot cavity tuned to a transition connecting the nS state to a nearby n′P level. The atoms absorb the radiation in the cavity (nS→nP upward transition), or amplify it in a maser process [nS→(n−1)P, nS→(n−2)P... downward transition]. Due to the huge size of the electric dipole matrix element between nearby Rydberg levels, the system is extremely sensitive to the millimeter wave radiation field (enhanced by the tuned cavity) in both absorption and emission processes. Simple numerical expressions are given. The experiments demonstrate that the system can be used as an absolute power meter, an ultrasensitive millimeter photon counter, an absolute quantum thermometer, and a transient millimeter-wave amplifier.
The operation of maser devices using highly excited Rydberg atoms as active medium is investigated. These systems, working in a transient regime reminiscent of super-radiance generate few-hundred-ns-long bursts of mm-wave radiation. They are characterized by extremely low inversion density thresholds (${N}_{0}\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{4}$ atoms typically) and very small peak power outputs (in the ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}$- to ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$-watt range). This study is interesting in the context of new tests of super-radiance and electrodynamics theory. It also opens new possibilities in the important domain of mm-wave amplification and detection. In this paper, we present a simple semiclassical theory of transient Rydberg maser operation and we report the experimental observation of a large number of maser emission lines on Na atoms, spanning a wide frequency interval ($60<\ensuremath{\nu}<950$ GHz). The technique used to monitor the emission is the indirect field ionization procedure which reveals fast radiative transfers occurring between Rydberg levels. Another method involving the direct detection of the maser radiation by a heterodyne receiver is described in a subsequent paper, along with a report on the investigation of various effects related to the triggering of the transient maser emission by external radiation.
Rydberg atoms excited in microwave resonators are ideal systems to test quantum electrodynamics on an unusual scale.1 Owing to their very large electric dipole sizes, these atoms are indeed coupled so strongly to infrared and millimeter-wave radiation that the field of a few photons—ultimately the one of a single photon—stored in a cavity is large enough to induce important transition rates during the atomic time of flight across the cavity. As a result quantum radiative effects are observed in a range of frequencies where usual atomic systems behave as purely classical radiators. The enhancement of the spontaneous emission rate of a single atom prepared in a tuned cavity has already been observed.2 For a resonant cavity with very small losses, a point should be reached where the atom can no longer decay but instead reversibly oscillates between the two states involved in the transition resonant with the cavity mode. Experiments aimed at the observation of this new regime of quantum electrodynamics evolution are under way
Abstract Various experiments involving very excited atoms and millimetre-wave photons are described, including high-resolution spectroscopy of Rydberg transitions, Rabi nutation and transient maser action between Rydberg levels. The large number of extremely narrow Rydberg spectral lines observed throughout the millimetre-wave spectrum provide a very good ‘calibration' of the scale of Rydberg levels of Na and Cs near the ionization limit, which could be used for the realization of precise infrared frequency markers. The observation of Rabi nutation and maser signals involving an unusually small absolute number of atoms and photons reveals the very great strength of the Rydberg atom to radiation coupling and is a clear indication that these atoms could be used as extremely sensitive millimetre-wave detectors. At a more fundamental level, the study of transient Rydberg masers provides a test of superradiance theory. Extrapolation of these maser experiments to the investigation of a situation where a single atom would exchange a single millimetre-wave photon with a resonant cavity is considered.
We present various experiments involving Rydberg atoms interacting with resonant microwave electromagnetic fields inside a cavity, allowing to check different features of the theory presented in the previous paper. We first describe experiments about superradiant emission by Rydberg states in the cavity, also called transient Rydberg atoms maser ; the evolution of the system is detected either on the populations by selective field ionization technique or on the microwave field itself by heterodyne detection. Very low thresholds, down to 100 atoms, for the maser emission have been observed. We then describe various aspects of collective absorption of radiation by very excited atoms including the observation of Rabi nutation in a small applied resonant field, the study of the quantum efficiency of this set-up considered as a microwave photon counter, and finally the unexpected characteristics of the blackbody radiation absorption in the cavity.
The "triggering" of transient maser systems using excited Rydberg atoms as active medium is investigated theoretically and experimentally. We show how the maser pulse characteristics are modified by the interaction of the active medium with small amounts of resonant mm-wave radiation. The phase, polarization, and emission delay of the radiated field are modified by this triggering: this can be used to detect very small powers of mm-or sub-mm-wave radiation. A complete discussion of the quantum and thermal noise of these detectors is presented. A demonstration of the feasibility of this technique is reported. Triggering signals corresponding to a detectivity of ${3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}$ W/Hz1/2{\mathrm{W}/\mathrm{H}\mathrm{z}}^{1/2}W/Hz1/2 at 108 GHz ($\ensuremath{\lambda}=2.8$ mm) have been measured at room temperature. The quantum-noise limit---corresponding to ${6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}10}^{\ensuremath{-}19}$ W/Hz1/2{\mathrm{W}/\mathrm{H}\mathrm{z}}^{1/2}W/Hz1/2---should be reached with liquid-helium-temperature-cooled detectors.