Low frequency electric field sensing with a Rydberg beam

Abstract

We present a method for performing low frequency electric field sensing via ionization detection of Rydberg atoms in a collimated atomic beam. A collimated beam avoids much of the electric field screening effects that are common in warm vapor cells due to the accumulation of alkali-metal atoms on glass surfaces. Further, a beam facilitates a spatially separated region for high signal-to-noise readout via ionization detection. Using this approach, we measure DC Stark shifts from external fields with frequencies as low as 1 Hz. The sensor demonstrates a sensitivity of better than 1 mV/m$\sqrt{\rm {Hz}}$ for frequencies above 20 Hz and $0.14(4)$ mV/m$\sqrt{\rm {Hz}}$ above 500 Hz with a linear dynamic range of over 50 dB.