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Rydberg states of alkali atoms in atomic vapor as SI-traceable field probes and communications receivers

Published

Author(s)

Noah Schlossberger, Nik Prajapati, Samuel Berweger, Andrew Rotunno, Aly Artusio-Glimpse, Abrar Sheikh, Eric Norrgard, Christopher L. Holloway, Stephen Eckel

Abstract

Rydberg states of alkali atoms are highly sensitive to electric fields because their electron wavefunction has a large spatial extent, leading to large polarizabilities for static fields and large transition dipole moments for time-varying fields. Furthermore, their hydrogen-like nature makes the effect of these fields easy to calculate. These properties make Rydberg atoms sensitive probes for performing self-calibrated and SI-traceable electric field measurements. In this review, we introduce and examine the current state of Rydberg atom-based electrometry in room-temperature atomic vapors. We cover the fundamental principles, experimental techniques, recent advancements, and applications of this field, providing a comprehensive resource for researchers interested in utilizing Rydberg atoms for precise electric field measurements.
Citation
Nature Reviews Physics

Citation

Schlossberger, N. , Prajapati, N. , Berweger, S. , Rotunno, A. , Artusio-Glimpse, A. , Sheikh, A. , Norrgard, E. , Holloway, C. and Eckel, S. (2024), Rydberg states of alkali atoms in atomic vapor as SI-traceable field probes and communications receivers, Nature Reviews Physics (Accessed May 20, 2024)

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Created May 8, 2024