Mainz 2017 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 53: Poster: Quantum Optics and Photonics III

Q 53.87: Poster

Donnerstag, 9. März 2017, 17:00–19:00, P OG2

Using Schrödinger cat states of Rydberg atoms to measure fast electric fields — •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

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) [1]. This allows using the Rydberg atom as a microscopic electrometer that can perform time-resolved field measurements with a very high bandwidth.

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