English

Significant progress has been made in the research on the detection of microwave electric fields in the Rydberg area of Shanghai Institute of Optics and Technology

511
2024-05-08 15:36:49
See translation

Recently, the Aerospace Laser Technology and System Department of the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the East China Research Team of the Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with the research team of Professor Chen Liqing of East China Normal University, demonstrated a Rydberg microwave sensor with high sensitivity and high instantaneous bandwidth for the first time in rubidium Rydberg atoms. The related achievements are titled "Highly sensitive microwave electronics with enhanced instantaneous bandwidth" and published in the PHYSICAL VIEW APPLED (Letter).

Rydberg atoms are highly excited atoms with a large electric dipole moment and are highly sensitive to external electromagnetic fields. Therefore, it has been proposed to use the electromagnetic induced transparency (EIT) and Autler Townes (AT) effects of Rydberg atoms to measure microwave electric fields. The detection sensitivity and instantaneous bandwidth are key indicators for Rydberg microwave detection. Previously, based on Rydberg atomic superheterodyne detection technology, high sensitivity (55 nV cm? 1 Hz? 1/2) could be achieved, but its instantaneous bandwidth was limited to several hundred kilohertz. Having both high sensitivity and large instantaneous bandwidth is a challenge in the research field of Rydberg microwave electric field detection.

Based on six wave mixing technology, the research team experimentally demonstrated a Rydberg microwave sensor that achieves both high sensitivity and high instantaneous bandwidth in a rubidium Rydberg atomic gas chamber. With an instantaneous bandwidth of up to 10.2 MHz, the maximum detection sensitivity can reach 62nVcm-1Hz-1/2. Theoretical and experimental results indicate that the enhanced high-frequency response comes from the enhancement effect of the detection light negative sideband generated by the six wave mixing process. The research results will promote the application of Rydberg microwave sensing technology in radar and communication.

The related work has been supported by projects such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the experimental setup for the principle (a) of the Rydberg microwave sensor

(b) (c) Two six wave mixing processes that generate positive and negative sidebands

Figure 2 Sensitivity of Rydberg Microwave Sensor (a) Relationship between Superheterodyne Signal and Signal Microwave Power (b) Sensitivity Determined by System Noise

Source: Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Related Recommendations
  • Coherent's revenue for 2024 is $5.301 billion

    International laser giant Coherent's Q4 2024 sales exceeded expectations, reaching a historic high!Recently, Coherent released its highest quarterly sales data in history, mainly due to the demand for optical transceivers in artificial intelligence data center applications. For the three months ending December 31, the company's revenue was $1.43 billion, a year-on-year increase of 27% and a 6% inc...

    02-10
    See translation
  • Outstanding Optical Technologies at the 2025 Western Optoelectronics Exhibition in the United States

    In the long history of technological development, every major breakthrough in technology is like a shining star, illuminating the path forward for humanity. At the Photonics West conference in 2025, numerous breakthroughs in cutting-edge photonics technologies attracted the attention of the global academic and industrial communities. Several important technological advancements reported in this ex...

    02-12
    See translation
  • China University of Science and Technology has made significant progress in the field of pure red perovskite light-emitting diodes

    Recently, four research groups from the University of Science and Technology of China, namely Yao Hongbin, Fan Fengjia, Lin Yue, and Hu Wei, have collaborated to make significant progress in the field of pure red perovskite light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The team independently invented the Electrical Excitation Transient Spectroscopy (EETA) technology and used it to reveal that hole leakage is the ...

    05-12
    See translation
  • Scientists have conducted a series of studies on the mechanical properties and flame retardancy of laser formed Ti40 flame-retardant titanium alloy

    Recently, Professor Huang Chunping's team from Nanchang University of Aeronautics and Astronautics conducted a series of studies on the mechanical and flame retardant properties of laser formed Ti40 flame retardant titanium alloy. The research team used typical Ti40 flame-retardant titanium alloy as the research object and prepared Ti40 flame-retardant titanium alloy using LSF technology. The micr...

    2023-08-15
    See translation
  • XLight raises $40 million in financing to develop new EUV light sources

    xLight, a US startup aiming to commercialize particle accelerator driven free electron lasers (FELs) for use in semiconductor production, says it has raised $40 million in a series B round of venture funding.The Palo Alto, California, firm said that the support would enable it to develop a prototype next-generation light source capable of emitting at extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths that are ...

    07-23
    See translation