Low-frequency electric field sensing with a Rydberg beam
Abstract
We present a method for performing low-frequency electric-field sensing via ionization detection of Rydberg atoms in a collimated atomic beam. A collimated beam avoids many of the electric-field screening effects that are common in warm vapor cells due to the accumulation of alkali-metal atoms on glass surfaces. Further, a beam facilitates a spatially separated region for high signal-to-noise readout via ionization detection. Using this approach, we measure dc Stark shifts from external fields with frequencies as low as 1 Hz. The sensor demonstrates a sensitivity of better than 1 mV / m Hz for frequencies above 20 Hz and 0.14(4) mV / m Hz above 500 Hz with a linear dynamic range of over 50 dB.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates
Quantum chaos and dynamical systems
Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physical Review A
- Publisher
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Volume
- 114
- Issue
- 1
- Publication date
- 15 June 2026
- Language
- EN