Rydberg atoms interacting with microwave fields
Abstract
Nowadays, there is an interest to produce sensors for oscillating electric fields with frequencies between 1 kHz and 1 THz using Rydberg atoms. Such very excited atoms, which can be larger than a blood cell, are extremely sensitive to electromagnetic fields. In one hand, such sensibility makes them perfect candidates for electromagnetic field sensors. On the other hand, it is very inconvenient, because it makes very challenging to excite them to a single high quantum number state (n > 80), because spurious electromagnetic field can mix the atomic states. In this proposal, we intend to study the interaction of Rydberg atoms with microwave fields, using cold and hot atomic samples. We will investigate the use of state-of-the-art microwave metalenses to focus microwave beams into a hot vapor cell; the effect will be detected by performing electromagnetically induced transparency spectroscopy (EIT) in a vapor cell. A theoretical work suggests that microwave cavity maybe used to produce a Rydberg atomic interaction, which will not depend on the internuclear separation. To investigate this possibility, we will build a magneto-optical trap inside a microwave cavity, and the atoms will be detected by electromagnetically induced transparency spectroscopy (EIT). Such ground state atoms will be excited to a Rydberg state inside a microwave cavity, which can be tuned to an interesting atomic transition. The microwave cavity will shield the atoms from blackbody radiation and any other spurious field; besides it will enhance the atom-photon interaction for a given frequency, increasing the sensitivity of the microwave signal.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 25, 2021
- Source ID
- W911NF2110211
Entities
People
- Luis G Marcassa
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- São Carlos Institute of Physics at the University of São Paulo
- United States Army