We study the hyperfine spectrum of atoms of 87 Rb dressed by a radio-frequency field, and present experimental results in three different situations: freely falling atoms, atoms trapped in an optical dipole trap and atoms in an adiabatic radio-frequency dressed shell trap. In all cases, we observe several resonant side bands spaced (in frequency) at intervals equal to the dressing frequency, corresponding to transitions enabled by the dressing field. We theoretically explain the main features of the microwave spectrum, using a semi-classical model in the low field limit and the Rotating Wave Approximation for alkali-like species in general and 87 Rb atoms in particular. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate how the spectral signal of a dressed atomic ensemble enables an accurate determination of the dressing configuration and the probing microwave field.
We introduce a method to dispersively detect alkali-metal atoms in radio-frequency-dressed states. In particular, we use dressed detection to measure populations and population differences of atoms prepared in their clock states. Linear birefringence of the atomic medium enables atom number detection via polarization homodyning, a form of common path interferometry. In order to achieve low technical noise levels, we perform optical sideband detection after adiabatic transformation of bare states into dressed states. The balanced homodyne signal then oscillates independently of field fluctuations at twice the dressing frequency, thus allowing for robust, phase-locked detection that circumvents low-frequency noise. Using probe pulses of two optical frequencies, we can detect both clock states simultaneously and obtain population difference as well as the total atom number. The scheme also allows for difference measurements by direct subtraction of the homodyne signals at the balanced detector, which should technically enable quantum noise limited measurements with prospects for the preparation of spin squeezed states. The method extends to other Zeeman sublevels and can be employed in a range of atomic clock schemes, atom interferometers, and other experiments using dressed atoms.
We demonstrate visible integrated photonics, using an inverse-design approach. Tantalum-pentoxide nanophotonics offers <2 dB/cm waveguide loss across 450-2000 nm range. We create a suite of passives, including arbitrary-polarization grating sources for a Sr optical clock.
We discuss a scheme to implement a gyroscopic atom sensor with magnetically trapped ultra-cold atoms. Unlike standard light or matter wave Sagnac interferometers no free wave propagation is used. Interferometer operation is controlled only with static, radio-frequency and microwave magnetic fields, which removes the need for interferometric stability of optical laser beams. Due to the confinement of atoms, the scheme may allow the construction of small scale portable sensors. We discuss the main elements of the scheme and report on recent results and efforts towards its experimental realization.
Visible wavelengths of light control the quantum matter of atoms and
molecules and are foundational for quantum technologies, including
computers, sensors, and clocks. The development of visible integrated
photonics opens the possibility for scalable circuits with complex
functionalities, advancing both science and technology frontiers. We
experimentally demonstrate an inverse design approach based on the
superposition of guided mode sources, allowing the generation and
complete control of free-space radiation directly from within a single
150 nm layer Ta2O5, showing low loss across visible and
near-infrared spectra. We generate diverging circularly polarized
beams at the challenging 461 nm wavelength that can be directly
used for magneto-optical traps of strontium atoms, constituting a
fundamental building block for a range of atomic-physics-based quantum
technologies. Our generated topological vortex beams and the potential
for spatially varying polarization emitters could open unexplored
light–matter interaction pathways, enabling a broad new
photonic–atomic paradigm. Our platform highlights the generalizability
of nanoscale devices for visible-laser emission and will be critical
for scaling quantum technologies.
We describe our progress in the development of an atom based rotation sensor, which employs state-dependent trapping potentials to transport ultracold atoms along a closed path and perform Sagnac interferometry. Whilst guided atom interferometers are sought after to build miniaturized devices that overcome size restrictions from free-falling atoms, fully trapped interferometers also remove free-propagation along an atomic waveguide. This provides additional control of motion, e.g. removing wave-packet dispersion and enabling operation that remains independent of external acceleration. Our experimental scheme relies on radio-frequency and microwave-fields, which are partly generated via atom-chip technology, providing a step towards implementing a small, robust, and eventually portable atomic-gyroscope.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.