Electromagnetically induced transparency based Rydberg-atom sensor for traceable voltage measurements

Published

July 1, 2022

Author(s)

chris holloway, Aly Artusio-Glimpse, MATTHEW SIMONS, Nik Prajapati, Amy Robinson

Abstract

We investigate the Stark shift in Rydberg rubidium atoms through electromagnetically induced transparency for the measurement of direct current (dc) and 60 Hz alternating current (ac) voltages. This technique has direct application to the calibration of voltage measurement instrumentation. We present experimental results for different atomic states that allow for dc and ac voltage measurements ranging from 0 to 12 V. While the state-of-the-art method for realizing the volt, the Josephson voltage standard, is significantly more accurate, the Rydberg atom-based method presented here has the potential to be a calibration standard with more favorable size, weight, power, and cost. We discuss the steps necessary to develop the Rydberg atom-based voltage measurement as a complementary method for dissemination of the voltage scale directly to the end user and discuss sources of uncertainties for these types of experiments.

Citation

AVS Quantum Science

Volume

4

Issue

034401

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1116/5.0097746

Local Download

Keywords

Rydberg atoms, Voltage measurements, SI traceable, quantum standard

Citation

holloway, C. , Artusio-Glimpse, A. , SIMONS, M. , Prajapati, N. and Robinson, A. (2022), Electromagnetically induced transparency based Rydberg-atom sensor for traceable voltage measurements, AVS Quantum Science, [online], https://doi.org/10.1116/5.0097746, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=932740 (Accessed October 8, 2025)