Simple Python tools for modelling few-level atom-light interactions

We investigate fine structure changing collisions in 87Rb vapour upon D2 excitation in a thermal vapour at 75°C; the atoms are placed in a 0.6 T axial magnetic field in order to gain access to the hyperfine Pashen-Back regime. Following optical excitation on the D2 line, the exothermic transfer 5P3/2 →5P1/2 occurs as a consequence of buffer-gas collisions; the 87Rb subsequently emits a photon on the D1 transition. We employ single-photon counting apparatus to monitor the D1 fluorescence, with an etalon filter to provide high spectral resolution. By studying the D1 fluorescence when the D2 excitation laser is scanned, we see that during the collisional transfer process the m′J quantum number of the atom changes, but the nuclear spin projection quantum number, m′I , is conserved. A simple kinematic model incorporating a coefficient of restitution in the collision accounted for the change in velocity distribution of atoms undergoing collisions, and the resulting fluorescence lineshape. The experiment is conducted with a nominally “buffer-gas free” vapour cell; our results show that fine structure changing collisions are important with such media, and point out possible implications for quantum-optics experiments in thermal vapours producing entangled photon pairs with the double ladder configuration, and solar physics magneto-optical filters.

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Simultaneous multiband radio-frequency detection using high-orbital-angular-momentum states in a Rydberg-atom receiver

Allinson,

Jamieson,

Mackellar

et al. 2024

Phys. Rev. Research

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We demonstrate simultaneous detection of radio-frequency (rf) fields ranging from the very high-frequency (VHF) band (128 MHz) to terahertz frequencies (0.61 THz) using high-orbital-angular-momentum (ℓ) states in a caesium Rydberg-atom receiver. rf fields are applied concurrently to a series of atomic transitions, where the application of each field allows access to the next-highest ℓ state and the energy separations between states become progressively smaller, allowing access to a very wide range of radio frequencies. We show that the optical response of the system in the presence of the rf fields can be reproduced theoretically using a simple Lindblad-master-equation approach. Furthermore, we demonstrate experimentally that a series of amplitude-modulated tones can be detected simultaneously using a wide range of carrier frequencies. This demonstration opens the way for Rydberg receivers to access low-frequency rf bands at low principal quantum number and allows for communications across multiple bands simultaneously using a single optical receiver. Moreover, the experimental method presented allows for high-resolution spectroscopy of high-orbital-angular-momentum states in alkali-metal atoms. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

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Simple Python tools for modelling few-level atom-light interactions

Cited by 6 publications

References 25 publications

CoOMBE: A suite of open-source programs for the integration of the optical Bloch equations and Maxwell-Bloch equations

CoOMBE: A suite of open-source programs for the integration of the optical Bloch equations and Maxwell-Bloch equations

Fine-structure changing collisions in ⁸⁷Rb upon D₂ excitation in the hyperfine Paschen-Back regime

Simultaneous multiband radio-frequency detection using high-orbital-angular-momentum states in a Rydberg-atom receiver

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Simple Python tools for modelling few-level atom-light interactions

Cited by 6 publications

References 25 publications

CoOMBE: A suite of open-source programs for the integration of the optical Bloch equations and Maxwell-Bloch equations

CoOMBE: A suite of open-source programs for the integration of the optical Bloch equations and Maxwell-Bloch equations

Fine-structure changing collisions in 87Rb upon D2 excitation in the hyperfine Paschen-Back regime

Simultaneous multiband radio-frequency detection using high-orbital-angular-momentum states in a Rydberg-atom receiver

Contact Info

Product

Resources

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Fine-structure changing collisions in ⁸⁷Rb upon D₂ excitation in the hyperfine Paschen-Back regime