Description
We investigate the frequency-dependent AC Stark shift of Rydberg states in Rubidium through theoretical modelling and experimental spectroscopy. A warm alkali vapour containing Rubidium atoms in natural abundance is gently heated and three infrared lasers whose frequencies are referenced against an atomically disciplined optical frequency comb produce a coherent ensemble of high principal quantum number Rydberg states in a 5S → 5P → 5D → nF cascade.
Large transition dipole moments between Rydberg states enable strong coupling to radio and microwave frequency fields. The presence of externally applied fields perturbs the atomic energy level structure and imprints field information onto the atomic coherence. Subsequently, three-photon electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) provides a means of sensitive optical readout. For externally applied fields near a transition resonance, microwave dressing produces Autler–Townes splitting in the EIT spectrum. Far from resonance, externally applied fields induce AC Stark shifts whose magnitude and direction depend on the field frequency and amplitude. Splittings and shifts are measured as changes in probe transmission as the frequency of one of the lasers is scanned across the EIT resonance. We calculate the atomic polarizability and resulting AC Stark shifts of nF Rydberg states in Rubidium using Floquet methods and compare model predictions with experimental measurements. This comparison tests the description of off-resonant atom–field interactions and informs the development of Rydberg-based atomic receivers.
| I am the presenting author | No |
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| If you are not the presenting author, please give the presenting author's name: | Adam Bennet |