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arXiv:physics/0504066 · Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements

Realization of an atomic microwave power standard

David C. Paulusse, Nelson L. Rowell, A. Michaud

Published Jun 25, 2003• 7 citations
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Abstract

We demonstrate the feasibility of a novel microwave power standard based on the electromagnetic interaction with cold atoms. Under the effect of the radiation, the internal state populations will undergo a Rabi oscillation. The measurement of its frequency will allow the determination of the electromagnetic field strength.
DOI
10.1109/cpem.2002.1034786

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We present an initial proof-of-concept experiment to measure microwave power based on quantum-mechanical principles. Ground-state cesium atoms exposed to microwaves at 9.192 631 770 GHz oscillate between two hyperfine states at a rate that is proportional to the rf magnetic field strength. This provides a quantum-based method of measuring rf field strength that depends only on the fundamental parameters in the proportionality constant. A small fountain apparatus was used to prepare laser-cooled cesium atoms in a single hyperfine state, which were then launched through a cylindrical cavity operating in the TE011 mode. After passing through the cavity, the fraction of atoms in the two hyperfine states was measured. Rabi oscillations between the two states were observed as a function of microwave field strength. The scaling with field strength and with time in the cavity agreed with theory to within 0.4%. The field strength in the cavity was used, together with measured S parameters, to determine the microwave power incident at a reference plane outside the fountain apparatus. The difference between the quantum-based microwave power measurement and a traditional microwave power measurement was less than 5% of the measured power.
In this work, the theoretical and measurement results have been reported of microwave E-field sensing using an atomic spectroscopy instead of conventional methods (using antennae) under practice till date. This method is based on interaction of microwave with the Rb atoms excited to the Rydberg states by using two laser beams. This significantly new technique may get accepted internationally as a new primary standard for accurate and precise measurements of various Radio-Frequency parameters such as E-field, power, radiation pressure etc as it provides traceability to physical constants and SI units. The atomic model is also studied theoretically and Optical Bloch equations of the same are reported. It has been shown that microwave E-field strength is measured by studying the frequency difference between the peaks in laser transmission curve. The ability of atoms to sense E-field is shown by varying the power and distance of the antenna from atomic cell. In addition, results are shown for weak RF field detection by detuning the RF field by MHz order.
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