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Applied Physics Letters

Tunable quantum counter for far-infrared radiation

H. Lengfellner, G. Pauli, W. Heisel, Karl Friedrich Renk

Published Nov 1, 1976• 13 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report on a quantum counter which converts far-infrared radiation to visible light. The 891-Ghz radiation of an HCN laser, absorbed in optically pumped ruby by the transition Ē (2E) →2Ā (2E), was detected by an increased R2 fluorescence. By Zeeman splitting of the 2E levels the narrow-band detector was tuned to the laser line.
DOI
10.1063/1.89188

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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.
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