Rydberg atoms, atoms with one highly-excited electron, are highly sensitive to microwave electric fields. Using a quantum interference process, electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), Rydberg atoms become detectors for microwave fields in the regime from GHz to THz with an extremely high sensitivity in a modest setup. Due to atoms' self-calibrating nature and stable atomic properties, this method has the potential to become a new microwave standard for electric field measurement and calibration. In addition, high sensitivity and simplicity open the avenue for low-intensity communication applications.
ColdQuanta physicist Haoquan Fan will discuss the concepts, techniques, applications, and challenges of microwave electrometry with Rydberg atoms.
