Electric field intensity measurement by using doublet electromagnetically induced transparency of cold Rb Rydberg atoms

We demonstrate a simple method to measure electric field intensity by using doublet electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) spectra of cold Rb Rydberg atoms, where the frequency of the coupling laser does not need to be locked. Based on the Stark splitting of the Rb Rydberg state, 10D3/2, under electric fields and the corresponding calculated polarizabilities, the real electric field intensity is calculated using the difference in radio-frequency diffraction between two acousto-optic modulators, which acts as a frequency criterion that allows us to measure the electrical field without locking the coupling laser. The value measured by this simple method shows a good agreement with our previous work [Opt. Express 29 1558 (2021)] where the frequency of the coupling laser needs to be locked with an additional EIT spectrum based on atom vapor and a proportional-integral-differential feedback circuit. Our presented method can also be extended to the measurement of electric field based on hot Rydberg atom vapor, which has application in industry.

Automated summary

We present a simple method to measure electric field intensity using doublet electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) spectra of cold Rb Rydberg atoms, without the need to lock the frequency of the coupling laser. The measured values using this method show good agreement with a previous method that required locking the laser frequency. This method can also be extended to measure electric fields based on hot Rydberg atom vapor.