To address the interference of electromagnetic disturbances other than the low-frequency electric field under test on quantum measurements, this paper investigates the interaction between external electromagnetic interference and Rydberg atoms based on the spectrum formed by the Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) effect. A targeted electromagnetic shielding scheme is proposed accordingly. First, the mechanism of interaction between low-frequency magnetic fields and excited atoms is elucidated based on hyperfine level structures. The Zeeman splitting characteristics of atoms under magnetic fields are analyzed through simulations, and the effects of magnetic fields of varying intensities on EIT spectra are measured experimentally. Second, regarding the impact of high-frequency electric fields on electric field quantum measurements, the scenario where the interfering electric field frequency is non-resonant with the Rydberg atom energy levels is primarily considered. The Stark shift in the EIT spectrum caused by the interfering electric field was experimentally measured. Finally, to enhance the system's electromagnetic interference resistance, an electromagnetic shielding scheme was designed and experimentally validated to demonstrate the suppression effect of the electromagnetic shielding enclosure against external electromagnetic interference.
To address the interference of electromagnetic disturbances other than the low-frequency electric field under test on quantum measurements, this paper investigates the interaction between external electromagnetic interference and Rydberg atoms based on the spectrum formed by the Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) effect. A targeted electromagnetic shielding scheme is proposed accordingly. First, the mechanism of interaction between low-frequency magnetic fields and excited atoms is elucidated based on hyperfine level structures. The Zeeman splitting characteristics of atoms under magnetic fields are analyzed through simulations, and the effects of magnetic fields of varying intensities on EIT spectra are measured experimentally. Second, regarding the impact of high-frequency electric fields on electric field quantum measurements, the scenario where the interfering electric field frequency is non-resonant with the Rydberg atom energy levels is primarily considered. The Stark shift in the EIT spectrum caused by the interfering electric field was experimentally measured. Finally, to enhance the system's electromagnetic interference resistance, an electromagnetic shielding scheme was designed and experimentally validated to demonstrate the suppression effect of the electromagnetic shielding enclosure against external electromagnetic interference.
The large electric dipole moment of the Rydberg atom allows for strong coupling with weak electric fields, and is widely used in electric field measurements because of its reproducibility, precision and stability. The combination of Rydberg atoms and electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) technology has been used for detecting and characterizing radio-frequency (RF) electric fields. In this work, by selecting probe light (852 nm), dressed light (1470 nm), and coupled light (780 nm), the Rydberg state (49P3/2) of Cs atom is prepared by using a three-photon excitation scheme through using all-infrared light excitation of Rydberg atoms. We experimentally observe the EIT spectra of the Rydberg states decorated by radio-frequency electric fields, which optically detects Rydberg atoms. The effect of the amplitude and frequency of the RF electric field on the spectrum is explored in light of changes in the EIT spectrum. The results show that in the region of weak electric field, only the ac Stark energy shift and spectral broadening occur. As the electric field is further enhanced, the sideband phenomenon occurs in both the primary peak and secondary peak of the EIT. In the region of strong field, the Rydberg energy level produces a series of Floquet states with higher-order terms, as well as state shifting and mixing, resulting in asymmetry in the spectra of the EIT sideband peaks. The effect of frequency on the shielding effect of the Cs vapor cell is further discussed based on the shift of the main peak of the EIT. The demodulation of the electric field in a range of 50 Hz–1 kHz with a fidelity of 95% is achieved by modulating the low-frequency electric field to the RF electric field. The results can provide valuable references for spectral detection and traceable measurements of low-frequency electric fields.
A Rydberg atom is a special type of atom characterized by a high principal quantum number. Electric field sensors based on Rydberg atoms have received widespread attention due to their high polarizability. However, there is currently little research on the use of Rydberg atoms for direct current (DC) or low-frequency electric fields, mainly due to the shielding effect of atomic vapor cells in low-frequency electric fields, which makes accurate measurement of the electric fields extremely challenging. In this paper, we construct a Rydberg ladder configuration by using probe laser at 852 nm and coupling laser at 510 nm in a room-temperature cesium vapor cell with integrated electrode plates, thereby enabling the realizing of a Floquet-EIT (electromagnetically induced transparency) spectrum dressed by a radio frequency (RF) field in the presence of a DC electric field. We further study the influence of DC electric field on spectral characteristic. Experimentally, it is observed that when only the RF electric field is applied, the EIT spectrum displays solely even-order sidebands. Furthermore, when both the RF field and the DC electric field are simultaneously present, the first-order sideband signal of the Floquet-EIT is observed. As the intensity of the DC electric field increases, the amplitude of the first-order sideband gradually increases. However, increasing the DC electric field to a sufficient magnitude induces sideband interference, which leads the sideband amplitudes to decrease. Furthermore, increasing the RF frequency can alleviate the interference effects induced by the DC electric field on the first-order sideband. Finally, comparing the relative standard deviation of the sideband amplitudes of the Floquet-EIT spectra with the frequency shifts of the DC-Stark spectra under weak DC electric fields, we find that the measurement accuracy of the former is significantly superior to that of the latter. This work makes use of a Cs atomic vapor cell with an integrated electrode to avoid shielding effects. By observing Floquet-EIT spectra, the response of the spectra to DC electric fields is investigated. This experiment provides novel insights into the quantum sensing measurements of DC and low-frequency electric fields.
Rydberg-assisted atomic electrometry with thermal vapors offers a promising approach for detecting external electric fields. However, this technique presents significant challenges for measuring low frequencies due to the effects of metal-alkali atoms adsorbed on the interior surface of the vacuum chamber. In this work, we apply high-contrast Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) spectroscopy to systematically investigate these effects, including the influence of laser power and electric field strength. We demonstrate the ability to measure electric field frequencies ranging from 10 Hz to 1 MHz. Additionally, this study identifies a fundamental limit for data capacity in such measurements. Furthermore, we propose a method for precise Stark shift measurements by locking the coupling laser to Zeeman-split Rydberg EIT peaks. Using the Zeeman shift in a reference cell as a stable frequency reference, we are able to track Stark-induced shifts in a science cell and confirm excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. These results provide valuable insights for future precision measurement techniques and field sensing applications based on Rydberg atom systems.
The high polarizability of Rydberg atoms enables the multi-parameters measurement of electromagnetic fields. In this paper, we report on an atomic antenna based on Rydberg atoms in a room temperature vapor cell. The EIT is a destructive interference spectroscopy with a narrow linewidth and can be used to detect small electric fields through Autler-Townes splitting or Stark shifts. In our experiments, we employ cascade-type two-photon excitation electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) spectroscopy to measure the shift of the Rydberg energy level. We introduce a low-frequency electric field (~kHz frequency) using a built-in electrode technique in the cesium cell. The interaction between the Rydberg atom and electric field induces the Stark shifts, where the amplitude of the electric field is converted into corresponding two-photon detuning by the EIT effect. Furthermore, the amplitude of the low-frequency electric field is converted into an intensity signal of EIT probe beam. Under weak field conditions, it is an approximate linear relationship between EIT transmission signal and input electric field amplitude, enabling measurement of waveform, amplitude, and frequency. We have demonstrated optical measurements of low-frequency electric field using Rydberg atoms. By increasing the power of probe beam and coupling beam, the EIT can increase the response bandwidth from ~MHz to hundreds of MHz. This provides a scalable approach for measuring high-frequency electric fields.
Rydberg atoms have emerged as a versatile and efficient platform for high-sensitivity quantum sensing of free-space electric fields, with remarkable progress in detecting low-frequency signals. To date, low-frequency Rydberg receivers have relied on a constant bias field, typically realized via intra-cell electrodes or Rydberg plasmas generated by photoelectric effects or inter-atomic interactions. While these approaches improve sensitivity, they suffer from inherent challenges in calibration, long-term stability, and robustness, hindering practical deployment. Here, we propose, design, and experimentally demonstrate a quantum sensing scheme for low-frequency electric signals using modulated auxiliary fields in Rydberg atoms. Unlike conventional methods that employ external DC electric fields that are often fully shielded by adsorbed atom layers on the cell walls, we introduce an AC-field modulation strategy. The incoming low-frequency signal mixes with the auxiliary field, and together they induce Stark shifts of the Rydberg level. These shifts are mapped onto the probe laser via electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), in a manner analogous to heterodyne detection. We demonstrate a sensitivity of 7.5±2.6μV/(cm⋅Hz1/2) at 5 kHz and a minimal detectable field of 0.26±0.04μV/cm with an integration time of 1000 s. Furthermore, we extend this approach to systematically analyze the performance of generalized auxiliary fields containing multiple frequency components. By virtue of modulated auxiliary field and quantum frequency mixing, our results establish a robust and systematic framework for quantum sensing of low-frequency electric fields with Rydberg atoms, offering improved sensitivity, stability, and immunity to environmental drifts.
The interaction between an electric field and the energy levels of Rydberg states results in the Stark effect, which can be used for quantum detection by measuring the frequency shift in electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) spectra. By using the functional relationship between the frequency shift and the electric field, it is possible to measure the electric field in question. However, the mismatch between the probe laser and the polarization direction of the coupled laser leads to errors in the measurement of the frequency shift, affecting the accurate measurement of the electric field. In this work, the Schrödinger equation is solved by perturbation method to derive the functional relationship between the energy offset and the electric field strength. Then, the functional relationship between the energy offset and the electric field strength is brought into the solution of the density matrix equation, and the influences of the polarization direction of the detected light and coupled light on the EIT-Stark mathematical model are analyzed. Then an internal electrode method is used to prevent shielding effects caused by alkali metal atoms adhering to the surface of the atomic vapor cell, thereby enabling the application of the electric field. The calibration of the Rydberg state polarisation rate is achieved by using a standard source and measuring the frequency shift of the EIT spectrum. Finally, the effects of polarisation mismatch on the measurement results of EIT spectrum and the electric field are verified by modulating the laser polarization direction. The experimental data show that when the polarization directions of the probe laser and coupled laser are parallel to each other, it is the most matched polarization direction for the lasers, the peak value of the EIT spectrum is the largest, and the maximum relative error of the electric field measurement is 1.67%. When the angle between the polarisation directions of the probe light and the coupled light laser is 45°, the laser polarisation mismatch is the most severe, the EIT spectral peak is the lowest and the maximum relative error of the electric field measurement is 10.24%.