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Acta Physica Sinica

Response characteristics of radio frequency pulse of Rydberg atoms

Feng-Chuan Wu, Yi Lin, Bo Wu, Yunqi Fu

Published Jan 1, 2022• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Rydberg atom is an atom with a high principal quantum number. Its quantum coherence effect enables the measuring of radio frequency electric fields in space. In this work, the radio frequency pulse response characteristics of the radio frequency receiving system based on the Rydberg atom under different pulse widths and intensities are studied. In the experiment, lasers with wavelengths of 852 nm and 510 nm are used to excite cesium atoms. Moreover, a radio frequency source emits pulse signals with different parameters to irradiate Rydberg atoms. The probe signal transmitted from the atomic vapor cell is directed at the photodetector. Moreover, the oscilloscope records the electrical signal obtained by photoelectric conversion. In addition, the simulation ranging is performed by setting different pulse delay times through the fiber delay instrument. It preliminarily proves that the radio frequency receiving system based on Rydberg atoms has a function of pulse ranging.

DOI
10.7498/aps.71.20220972

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Rydberg atom is an atom with a high principal quantum number. Its quantum coherence effect enables the measuring of radio frequency electric fields in space. In this work, the radio frequency pulse response characteristics of the radio frequency receiving system based on the Rydberg atom under different pulse widths and intensities are studied. In the experiment, lasers with wavelengths of 852 nm and 510 nm are used to excite cesium atoms. Moreover, a radio frequency source emits pulse signals with different parameters to irradiate Rydberg atoms. The probe signal transmitted from the atomic vapor cell is directed at the photodetector. Moreover, the oscilloscope records the electrical signal obtained by photoelectric conversion. In addition, the simulation ranging is performed by setting different pulse delay times through the fiber delay instrument. It preliminarily proves that the radio frequency receiving system based on Rydberg atoms has a function of pulse ranging.
Rydberg atoms show significant promise as the basis for highly sensitive detectors of continuous radio-frequency (rf) electric fields (E fields). Here, we study their time-dependent response to pulse-modulated rf E fields at 19.4 GHz using a cesium vapor cell at room temperature. We use density-matrix simulations to explain the timescales that shape the transient atomic response under different laser conditions, finding them to be limited by dephasing mechanisms, including transit-time broadening, Rydberg-Rydberg collisions, and ionization. Using a matched filter, we demonstrate the detection of individual pulses with durations from 10 \textmu{}s down to 50 ns and amplitudes from 15 000 \textmu{}V ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ down to about 170 \textmu{}V ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, corresponding to a sensitivity of about 240 nV ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ ${\mathrm{Hz}}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$. Finally, we highlight the potential of a Rydberg vapor cell as a receiver by detecting pulse trains from a rotating emitter on a simulated passing aircraft.
In this work, we present theoretical and experimental data on detecting pulsed radio frequency fields. We focus on pulse arrival time detection accuracy. We measure two-photon Rydberg atom EIT in response to ~μs pulse-modulated radio-frequency signals resonant with a Rydberg-Rydberg transition, using a room temperature cesium vapor cell with the lasers locked on atomic resonances. We study the dependence of the atomic response on optical and radio-frequency Rabi frequencies as well as effects such as atomic collisions, ionization, and transit time broadening. We find good agreement with time-dependent simulations performed using a density matrix approach, with a dark state added to account for Rydberg atom decay. We present factors that can influence the sensitivity and timing precision of radio frequency pulses detected under these conditions. Such a system demonstrates potential for the detection of weak radio-frequency pulses in communications and radar applications.
Through the cascade excitation of 852-nm continuous-wave (CW) laser and 509-nm nanosecond pulsed laser, the electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) spectroscopic signals of ladder-type three-level cesium atoms with Rydberg state are obtained by using a room-temperature cesium vapor cell. The power of 509-nm pulsed laser beam is ~176 W, while the pulse repetition frequency ranges from 300 kHz to 100 MHz and can be continuously adjusted. The laser pulse duration runs from 1 to 100 ns and can be continuously adjusted. The relationship between Rydberg EIT spectroscopic signals and 509-nm nanosecond pulsed laser parameters is investigated experimentally. By changing the pulse repetition frequency and the pulse duration of the 509-nm nanosecond pulsed laser, the comb-like Rydberg atomic spectrum is obtained by using a room-temperature cesium vapor cell. Within a certain range of repetition frequency and pulse duration, the envelope of spectral lines shows a regular pattern, and the spacing between the transmission peaks is consistent with the pulse repetition frequency. By changing the 509-nm laser pulse repetition frequency and pulse duration, atoms with the specific velocity group can be excited to Rydberg state. Reducing the repetition frequency of the 509-nm pulsed coupling laser can further increase the number of atoms in the Rydberg state in comparison with the case of finite velocity group pumping of cesium atoms by a continuous-wave laser. When the repetition frequency of the 509-nm pulsed laser approaches the EIT linewidth, the number of cesium Rydberg atoms can be increased by up to 10 times. In the parameter optimization process, the dynamic characteristics of pulsed excitation in multi-level atoms, as well as the interaction characteristics between arbitrarily shaped laser pulses and multi-level atomic systems, should be considered. Pulsed laser pumping can achieve the interaction between the laser field and atomic group with a specific velocity, and its developed atomic frequency comb spectra can be used for electric and magnetic field measurements. The multi-peak structure of the spectrum can be used to more accurately determine the intensity, frequency, and phase of the microwave electric field by measuring spectral variations. This high-sensitivity and high-resolution measurement capability is crucial for precisely measuring microwave electric fields. The pulsed coupling laser can excite atoms in a specific velocity group to the Rydberg state. High-density Rydberg atoms can improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the measured spectrum, which has potential applications in quantum sensing and quantum measurement based on Rydberg atoms.
Rydberg atoms have shown significant promise as the basis for highly sensitive detectors of continuous radio-frequency (RF) E-fields. Here, we study their time-dependent response to pulse-modulated RF E-fields at 19.4 GHz using a cesium vapour cell at room temperature. We use density matrix simulations to explain the time scales that shape the transient atomic response under different laser conditions, finding them to be limited by dephasing mechanisms including transit time broadening, Rydberg-Rydberg collisions, and ionization. Using a matched filter, we demonstrate the detection of individual pulses with durations from 10 μμμs down to 50 ns and amplitudes from 15000 μμμV cm−1^{-1}−1 down to ~170 μμμV cm−1^{-1}−1, corresponding to a sensitivity of ~240 nV cm−1^{-1}−1 Hz−1/2^{-1/2}−1/2. Finally, we highlight the potential of a Rydberg vapour cell as a receiver by detecting pulse trains from a rotating emitter on a simulated passing aircraft.
The highly-excited Rydberg states are with a unique property of radio-frequency (RF) resonance, and Rydberg atoms at room temperature are promising for developing a broadband RF electric field sensor and relevant metrology standards. In this paper, the working mechanism of an atomic amplitude-modulation(AM) radio receiver is investigated in detail, and various factors affecting the communication quality are discussed. The modulation RF signal can be directly retrieved by measuring the transmission of a probe laser at resonance of rubidium D2 transition using a fast photo-diode detector, without any conventional demodulation process. Various communication experiments are tested at a 10.22 GHz carrier, and a modulation bandwidth of 1 MHz and an acceptable data transfer rate of about 1 Mbps have been achieved using current detection techniques. Owing to a potential high sensitivity and ultra-broadband capability of free-space RF field sensing, the quantum receiver has great significance compared with conventional electronics-based receivers, including but not limited to a weak signal, long-distance, and broadband communication in free space or via a fiber link.
We report on the development of detection methods for amplitude and phase of pulsed radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields with Rydberg atoms. We begin with an overview of the basic principles of Rydberg-atom-based sensing and measurement of RF electromagnetic fields. An overview of the underlying atomic physics and the method for amplitude as well as phase sensing of electromagnetic radiation with Rydberg atoms is provided. Atomic RF receivers using Rydberg atoms for analog and digital communications and sensing of modulated RF fields are discussed. Detection of pulse-modulated RF and time-domain RF pulse waveform imaging with a Rydberg-atom receiver are demonstrated. The transient response of the Rydberg-atom vapor to a modulated RF field is observed at the 10-nanosecond level, from which a new lower limit to the achievable instantaneous signal bandwidth of atomic RF receivers is established. Finally, we present and describe a new method to measure the phase of an RF field implemented to not require an RF reference wave. The method employs phase-coherent excitation pathways involving the optical fields in the atomic sensing medium with the signal RF field. The optical RF phase-sensing approach lends itself to the realization of atomic RF sensors, measurement and imaging devices that are relevant to applications in RF communications and sensing.