RUI: Microwave to Optical Frequency Conversion Through Six-wave Mixing

摘要：量子计算和光通信需要宽频率范围内的相干光源。在光纤网络中使用的“电信”波长与量子计算中原子系统使用的波长之间进行转换的能力是进一步通信技术的重要组成部分，并将允许整个社会更有效地共享信息。这项工作的重点是原子和光之间的基本定量相互作用，以及如何利用这些相互作用来产生新波长的相干光源。处于高能量子态的原子已被证明对微波极为敏感，这为它们在微波到光学频率转换中的应用提供了动力。许多有前途的量子计算方案使用微波跃迁来控制量子态，而光纤技术则利用红外的高透射。因此，这种频率转换可能是将量子计算系统耦合到电信系统的重要组成部分。此外，作为本科院校的研究项目，这项工作将对实验物理劳动力的进一步发展产生重大影响，通过培养他们在实验技术，数据分析，计算和科学交流方面的技能，帮助准备和激励本科生从事科学事业。技术听众摘要：使用四个容易获得的激光器，热铷原子可以用来产生依赖于微波应用的相干红外源，反之亦然。这个过程利用了铷原子被n50激发到里德伯能级，这样在邻近状态之间的跃迁与微波频率共振。这项工作的主要目的是证明在热铷原子中使用六波混合作为微波-红外频率转换方法的可行性。通过在波混合过程中同时应用多个激光连接原子状态，将产生新的定向和相干光源，包括光学光源和微波光源，并优化其产生过程。其输出的功率和频率特性将作为输入源的功率、极化和频率的函数，以及所使用的里德堡状态进行探索。这项研究将提供铷原子中波混合的分析，这有可能极大地推进科学界对六波混合的理解。虽然四波混频已经被广泛研究和使用，但更高的波混频仍然相对未被探索。使用更高的波混合允许探索新的波长的相干光，同时仍然使用普通和方便的原子系统。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

General audience abstract:Quantum computation and optical communication require coherent light sources over a wide range of frequencies. The ability to convert between the “telecom” wavelengths used in optical fiber networks and those used for atomic systems in quantum computation is an important part of furthering communications technology, and would allow more effective information sharing throughout society. This work focuses on the fundamental quantitative interactions between atoms and light, and how these interactions can be used to generate coherent sources at novel wavelengths. Atoms in highly energetic quantum states have been shown to be extremely sensitive to microwaves, providing the impetus for their use in microwave to optical frequency conversion. Many promising quantum computation schemes use microwave transitions to control quantum states, while optical fiber technology makes use of high transmission in the infrared. As a result, this frequency conversion could be an essential part of coupling quantum computation systems to telecom systems. Additionally, as a Research in Undergraduate Institutions project, this work will have a significant effect on the further development of the experimental physics workforce, helping to prepare and motivate undergraduate students for careers in science by developing their skills in experimental technique, data analysis, computation, and scientific communication.Technical audience abstract:Using four lasers which are readily attainable, hot rubidium atoms can be used to generate a coherent infrared source dependent on the application of microwaves or vice-versa. The process makes use of rubidium atoms excited to Rydberg levels with n50, such that transitions between nearby states are resonant with microwave frequencies. The primary objective of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of using six-wave mixing in hot rubidium atoms as a microwave-infrared frequency conversion method. Through the simultaneous application of multiple lasers connecting atomic states in a process called wave mixing, new directional and coherent light sources, both optical and microwave, will be produced and the process of their generation optimized. Power and frequency characteristics of their output will be explored as a function of the power, polarization and frequency of the input sources, as well as the Rydberg state used. This research will provide analysis of wave mixing in rubidium atoms, which has the potential to greatly advance the scientific community's understanding of six-wave mixing. While four-wave mixing has been extensively investigated and used, higher wave-mixing remains relatively unexplored. The use of higher wave-mixing allows the exploration of novel wavelengths for coherent light while still using common and convenient atomic systems.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.