Mainz 2017 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 19: Precision Measurements and Metrology: Interferometry II (with Q)

A 19.4: Vortrag

Dienstag, 7. März 2017, 15:15–15:30, P 104

A sensitive electrometer based on a Rydberg atom in a Schrödinger-cat state — •Eva-Katharina Dietsche, Arthur Larrouy, Adrien Facon, Serge Haroche, Jean-Michel Raimond, Michel Brune, and Sebastien Gleyzes — Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, College de France, ENS-PSL, UPMC-Sorbonne Universite, CNRS, Paris France

The Rydberg atoms are highly excited states where the electron is orbiting far from the nucleus. As a result, they have a huge electric dipole, making them ideal probes of the electric field. Rydberg states are highly degenerated. However, in the presence of a small electric field, this degeneracy is lifted and it is possible to drive transitions between the different Stark sublevels by applying radiofrequency fields. It is then possible to manipulate the state of the atom inside the manifold. We have recently shown that by using a radiofrequency field with a well-defined polarization it is possible to restrict the evolution of the atom to a subspace of the manifold where it behaves like a large angular momentum J. We have prepared non-classical states, similar to Schrödinger cat states, that allowed us to measure small variations of the electric field with a sensitivity beyond the standard quantum limit [1]. We are now investigating more complex manipulations of the atom to take advantage of the full richness of the Rydberg manifold. By using a combination of radiofrequency fields of different polarizations we can explore a larger part of the level structure. This opens the way to schemes that give access to higher moments of the electric field.

[1] A. Facon et al. Nature 535, 262-265 (2016)