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arXiv · 2205.12876

Very-high- and ultrahigh- frequency electric field detection using high angular momentum Rydberg states

Roger C. Brown·Baran Kayim·Michael A. Viray·Abigail R. Perry·Brian C. Sawyer·Robert Wyllie
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Abstract

We demonstrate resonant detection of rf electric fields from 240 MHz to 900 MHz (very-high-frequency (VHF) to ultra-high-frequency (UHF)) using electromagnetically induced transparency to measure orbital angular momentum $L=3\rightarrow L'=4$ Rydberg transitions. These Rydberg states are accessible with three-photon infrared optical excitation. By resonantly detecting rf in the electrically small regime, these states enable a new class of atomic receivers. We find good agreement between measured spectra and predictions of quantum defect theory for principal quantum numbers $n=45$ to $70$. Using a super-hetrodyne detection setup, we measure the noise floor at $n=50$ to be $13\,\mathrm{μV/m/\sqrt{Hz}}$. Additionally, we utilize data and a numerical model incorporating a five-level master equation solution to estimate the fundamental sensitivity limits of our system.

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Roger C. Brown, Baran Kayim, Michael A. Viray, Abigail R. Perry, Brian C. Sawyer, Robert Wyllie. 2023-05-19. Very-high- and ultrahigh- frequency electric field detection using high angular momentum Rydberg states. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.107.052605

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