{"title":"Approaching the standard quantum limit of a Rydberg-atom microwave electrometer","authors":"Hai-Tao Tu, Kai-Yu Liao, Hong-Lei Wang, Yi-Fei Zhu, Si-Yuan Qiu, Hao Jiang, Wei Huang, Wu Bian, Hui Yan, Shi-Liang Zhu","doi":"10.1126/sciadv.ads0683","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"The development of a microwave electrometer with inherent uncertainty approaching its ultimate limit carries both fundamental and technological significance. However, because of the thermal motion of atoms, the state-of-art Rydberg electrometer falls considerably short of the standard quantum limit by about three orders of magnitude. Here, we use an optically thin medium with approximately 5.2 × 10 <jats:sup>5</jats:sup> laser-cooled atoms to implement the microwave heterodyne detection. By mitigating various noises and strategically optimizing the electrometer parameters, our study reduces the equivalent noise temperature by a factor of 20 and achieves an electric field sensitivity of 10.0 nV cm <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> Hz <jats:sup>−1/2</jats:sup> , lastly reaching a factor of 2.6 above the standard quantum limit. Our work also provides valuable insights into the inherent capabilities and limitations of Rydberg electrometers, offering superior sensitivity in detecting weak microwave signals for numerous applications.","PeriodicalId":21609,"journal":{"name":"Science Advances","volume":"83 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Science Advances","FirstCategoryId":"103","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ads0683","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The development of a microwave electrometer with inherent uncertainty approaching its ultimate limit carries both fundamental and technological significance. However, because of the thermal motion of atoms, the state-of-art Rydberg electrometer falls considerably short of the standard quantum limit by about three orders of magnitude. Here, we use an optically thin medium with approximately 5.2 × 10 5 laser-cooled atoms to implement the microwave heterodyne detection. By mitigating various noises and strategically optimizing the electrometer parameters, our study reduces the equivalent noise temperature by a factor of 20 and achieves an electric field sensitivity of 10.0 nV cm −1 Hz −1/2 , lastly reaching a factor of 2.6 above the standard quantum limit. Our work also provides valuable insights into the inherent capabilities and limitations of Rydberg electrometers, offering superior sensitivity in detecting weak microwave signals for numerous applications.
期刊介绍:
Science Advances, an open-access journal by AAAS, publishes impactful research in diverse scientific areas. It aims for fair, fast, and expert peer review, providing freely accessible research to readers. Led by distinguished scientists, the journal supports AAAS's mission by extending Science magazine's capacity to identify and promote significant advances. Evolving digital publishing technologies play a crucial role in advancing AAAS's global mission for science communication and benefitting humankind.