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Trap-loss fluorescence spectroscopy of cesium magneto-optical trap with single-photon Rydberg excitation and the background electric field measurement and regulation

Xiaokai Hou, Yuewei Wang, Wenjing Su, Jun He, Junmin Wang

Published Jan 31, 2025• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Calibration and compensation of the background electric fields in the vicinity of the cold atomic ensemble are critically vital, for achieving quantum computing, quantum simulation, and precision measurement. Here the work presents and demonstrates a straightforward method for measuring and compensation of the background electric field by means of the trap-loss fluorescence spectroscopy (TLFS) of cesium (Cs) magneto-optical trap (MOT) with the Rydberg n P 3/2 states with principal quantum numbers n from 71 to 85. In our experiment, TLFS is induced by single-photon Rydberg excitation with a Cs MOT, utilizing a 319 nm ultraviolet (UV) laser characterized by narrow linewidth (less than 6 kHz), continuous fine-tuning of 1 GHZ, and ultra-low-intensity noise (the intensity fluctuates approximately ±0.06% over 25 minutes with sampling power of 3 mW). Using this method, we measure the intensity of the background electric field in the vicinity of a cold atomic ensemble of about 218.9 ± 7.5 mV/cm. Through adjustment of electrode plates the residual electric field was reduced to 116.3 mV/cm, which induces a Stark shift −84.1 MHz. Our experiments provide an easier and more straightforward method for measuring and regulating the background electric field and lay a foundation for optimizing electric field compensation and fast feedback systems in the future.

DOI
10.1364/oe.549412

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In this work, numerical calculations were implemented based on the diagonalisation of a matrix representation of the Stark Hamiltonian on a subset of the basis given by the zero-field Hamiltonian. Dipole matrix elements between the involved states were calculated, which allow for the prediction of transition strengths to Stark shifted Rydberg states. The applicability of the numerical methods were confirmed experimentally by precision spectroscopy in a rubidium vapour cell with electrodes using electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). The numerical methods were then extended to predict ionisation rates of Rydberg states in the highly Stark shifted regime beyond the classical ionisation threshold. For this purpose, a complex absorbing potential (CAP) was specifically adjusted to the Stark Hamiltonian. An experiment was conducted, in which cold atoms from a magneto-optical trap (MOT) were excited to Stark shifted Rydberg states and the arising ions were detected. The obtained ionisation spectra agree well with the results from the numerical calculations. Another extension of the numerical methods was implemented for crossed electric and magnetic fields. This was used for approximate calculations of the motional Stark effect (MSE), which acts on atoms moving through static magnetic fields and thereby experiencing a Lorentz electric field. In a precision spectroscopy, once more using EIT in a vapour cell, the MSE was observed in low magnetic fields for the first time in rubidium. The spectral shift, which is caused by the MSE, matches the prediction from the numerical calculations. In a final experiment, the practical use of the knowledge of several properties of Stark shifted Rydberg states was illustrated. The numerical methods including the CAP were used to specifically select states for their optical accessibility, permanent electric dipole moments and ionisation rates. In the experiment, atoms from a MOT were excited to these states to observe different characteristics of the dipole blockade effect. The detection scheme for this experiment was realised by controlled ionisation using only small changes in the external electric field.

•Jan 1, 2018•0 citations
Calibration and compensation of the background electric fields in the vicinity of the cold atomic ensemble are critically vital, for achieving quantum computing, quantum simulation, and precision measurement. Here the work presents and demonstrates a straightforward method for measuring and compensation of the background electric field by means of the trap-loss fluorescence spectroscopy (TLFS) of cesium (Cs) magneto-optical trap (MOT) with the Rydberg n P 3/2 states with principal quantum numbers n from 71 to 85. In our experiment, TLFS is induced by single-photon Rydberg excitation with a Cs MOT, utilizing a 319 nm ultraviolet (UV) laser characterized by narrow linewidth (less than 6 kHz), continuous fine-tuning of 1 GHZ, and ultra-low-intensity noise (the intensity fluctuates approximately ±0.06% over 25 minutes with sampling power of 3 mW). Using this method, we measure the intensity of the background electric field in the vicinity of a cold atomic ensemble of about 218.9 ± 7.5 mV/cm. Through adjustment of electrode plates the residual electric field was reduced to 116.3 mV/cm, which induces a Stark shift −84.1 MHz. Our experiments provide an easier and more straightforward method for measuring and regulating the background electric field and lay a foundation for optimizing electric field compensation and fast feedback systems in the future.
We demonstrate the single-photon Rydberg excitation of cesium atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). We excite atoms directly from 6S1/2ground state to nP3/2(n = 70-100) Rydberg state with a narrow-linewidth 319-nm ultra-violet laser. The detection of Rydberg states is performed by monitoring the reduction of fluorescence signal of the MOT as partial population on 6S1/2(F = 4) ground state are transferred to Rydberg state. We clearly observe Autler-Townes doublet in the trap-loss spectra due to the cooling lights. Utilizing the large electric polarizibility of Rydberg atoms, we observe Stark splitting in the Autler-Townes doublet induced by background DC electric fields. We investigate the dependence of Stark shift on electric fields by theoretical analysis, and then infer the DC electric field from the measured Stark splitting. We find that there is a 44.8(4) mV/cm DC electric field in the vicinity of the cold ensemble. It indicates that high-lying Rydberg atoms can be used as sensors for DC electric fields.
We experimentally investigate trap-loss spectra of the cesium 6S1/2(F = 4) → 71P3/2 Rydberg transition by combining the cesium atomic magneto-optical trap with the narrow-linewidth, continuously tunable 318.6 nm ultraviolet laser. Specifically, the atoms in the magneto-optical trap are excited to the Rydberg state due to the ultraviolet laser single-step Rydberg excitation, which leads to the reduction of atomic fluorescence. Based on the trap-loss spectroscopy technology, the Autler–Townes (AT) splitting due to a strong cooling laser is observed, and the parameter dependence of the AT splitting interval of trap-loss spectroscopy is investigated. The effective temperature of cold atoms is measured by using simplified time-of-flight fluorescence imaging. In addition, closed-loop feedback power stabilization of 318.6 nm ultraviolet laser is carried out. This lays the foundation for further experimental research related to the Rydberg atoms using ultraviolet lasers, which is of great significance for the development of quantum computing and quantum information.
Abstract We present precise measurements of polarizabilities of cesium nS1/2 (n = 65–75) Rydberg states by Stark spectroscopies. In experiment, Rydberg atoms are excited via a two-photon scheme of a standard magneto-optical trap and detected by the field ionization technique. The Stark shift is measured by analysing the spectroscopy under an external electric field. The polarizability, α, is acquired by fitting the experimental data of Stark shifts with Δ W = − 1 2 α E 2 . The theoretical model is applied to numerically simulate the Stark map and corresponding level shifts, related deviation between the experimental measurements and calculations are less than 2%. The scaling law of polarizabilities, A ⋅ ( n * ) 7 + B ⋅ ( n * ) 6 (n* is effective principal quantum number), is attained, that shows a good agreement with the measurements.
Rydberg atoms are highly promising for microwave electric field sensing owing to their large dipole matrix elements. While most experimental developments have focused on room-temperature vapors so far, utilizing cold atoms in this context could open new possibilities for applications where accuracy, long term stability and highresolution at large integration times are required, such as calibrating blackbody shifts in state-of-the-art optical clocks or measuring the cosmic MW background. Here, we report a novel approach [1] for the metrology of microwave fields with cold 87 Rubidium Rydberg atoms based on trap-loss-spectroscopy in a magneto-optical trap (MOT).
A narrow-linewidth continuous-wave single-frequency tunable 318.6-nm ultraviolet laser system with watt-level output power is developed in our experiment based on well-developed fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers, and efficient laser frequency conversion technique. Cesium 6S1/2—nP3/2 (n = 70—94) single-photon Rydberg excitation in a room-temperature cesium atomic vapor cell is realized by using our ultraviolet laser system. The single-photon Rydberg excitation signal is obtained via the V-type three-level atomic system which contains 6S1/2 (F = 4) ground state, 6P3/2 (F = 5) excited state and one of nP3/2 (n = 70—94) Rydberg states. When cesium atoms populated on the ground state are partially excited to Rydberg state by the ultraviolet laser, absorption of 852.3-nm probe beam which is locked to 6S1/2 (F = 4)—6P3/2 (F ′ = 5) hyperfine transition will decrease. In this way, the cesium Rydberg states are detected. The quantum defects for cesium nP3/2 (n = 70—94) Rydberg states are experimentally measured with a high-precision wavemeter. The variation trend of experimentally measured data deviates from that of calculated values. Due to the fact that the cesium vapor cell is positioned in a magnetic shielding tank, the Zeeman effect can be ignored. Considering that the polarizability of Rydberg atoms is proportional to (n*)7, in which n* is the effective principal quantum number, the Rydberg screen effect of cesium atomic vapor cell cannot completely protect cesium atoms from being perturbed by an external DC electric field. Therefore the residual DC electric field existing inside the cesium vapor cell will have a significant influence on quantum defect measurement of Rydberg atoms. Using the theoretical model of Stark effect and the relationship between polarizability of Rydberg atoms and the effective principal quantum number n*, the corrected experimental value of quantum defect for cesium nP3/2 (n = 70—94) Rydberg states is found to be ~(3.5591 ± 0.0007). The corrected experimental value of quantum defect is consistent with the calculation.
In this work, numerical calculations were implemented based on the diagonalisation of a matrix representation of the Stark Hamiltonian on a subset of the basis given by the zero-field Hamiltonian. Dipole matrix elements between the involved states were calculated, which allow for the prediction of transition strengths to Stark shifted Rydberg states. The applicability of the numerical methods were confirmed experimentally by precision spectroscopy in a rubidium vapour cell with electrodes using electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). The numerical methods were then extended to predict ionisation rates of Rydberg states in the highly Stark shifted regime beyond the classical ionisation threshold. For this purpose, a complex absorbing potential (CAP) was specifically adjusted to the Stark Hamiltonian. An experiment was conducted, in which cold atoms from a magneto-optical trap (MOT) were excited to Stark shifted Rydberg states and the arising ions were detected. The obtained ionisation spectra agree well with the results from the numerical calculations. Another extension of the numerical methods was implemented for crossed electric and magnetic fields. This was used for approximate calculations of the motional Stark effect (MSE), which acts on atoms moving through static magnetic fields and thereby experiencing a Lorentz electric field. In a precision spectroscopy, once more using EIT in a vapour cell, the MSE was observed in low magnetic fields for the first time in rubidium. The spectral shift, which is caused by the MSE, matches the prediction from the numerical calculations. In a final experiment, the practical use of the knowledge of several properties of Stark shifted Rydberg states was illustrated. The numerical methods including the CAP were used to specifically select states for their optical accessibility, permanent electric dipole moments and ionisation rates. In the experiment, atoms from a MOT were excited to these states to observe different characteristics of the dipole blockade effect. The detection scheme for this experiment was realised by controlled ionisation using only small changes in the external electric field.