A Rydberg-Atom Based Detector for Terahertz Sources

• Applicant: Lara Torralbo-Campo, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2017 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 394517830

We propose the study of Rydberg atom-based detection schemes for sensing Therahertz (THz) radiation and for characterizing the spectrum and coherence properties of Terahertz emitters such as superconducting THz sources and quantum cascade lasers. The proposed detection scheme is based on an atomic multi-level system, in which THz radiation acting on a Rydberg state pair induces transparency for optical photons, probing one of the Rydberg states. Furthermore, we plan to demonstrate the detection of THz driven single atom transitions from one to another Rydberg state and use state selective single atom detection to reconstruct the photon statistics of THz emitters.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. József Fortágh