Hannover 2016 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 42: Poster: Quantum Optics and Photonics III

Q 42.12: Poster

Mittwoch, 2. März 2016, 16:30–19:00, Empore Lichthof

Using Schrödinger cat states of Rydberg atoms to measure electric fields — •Eva-Katharina Dietsche, Adrien Facon, Dorian Grosso, Serge Haroche, Jean-Michel Raimond, Michel Brune, and Sebastien Gleyzes — Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, College de France, ENS-PSL, UPMC-Sorbonne Universite, CNRS, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot 75005 Paris, France

We present a quantum-enabled measurement of the electric field using Rydberg atoms. We prepare the atom in a quantum superposition of two circular states with principle quantum number n=50 and n=51. Using a radiofrequency field resonant with the Stark transition in the n=50 manifold we transfer the n=50 part of the wave function from its horizontal circular orbit to a tilted elliptical trajectory. This creates a Schrödinger cat superposition of two states with very different polarizabilities whose relative phase is highly sensitive to variations in the amplitude of the electric field. Detecting this phase change using Ramsey interferometry allows us to measure the electric field with a precision below the standard quantum limit (SQL). This single-atom-electrometer allows us to measure weak field variations in the order of 1mV/cm in a few tens of nanoseconds, paving the way to non-invasive space- and time-resolved field measurements.