QUARTZ: QUAntum TeraheRTZ Detector using Rydberg Atoms

QUARTZ：使用里德堡原子的 QUANTUM TeraheRTZ 探测器

• 批准号: 132540
• 金额: $ 17.88万
• 依托单位: M-SQUARED LASERS LIMITED
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Feasibility Studies
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2017 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=132540
• 关键词: QUARTZ; QUAntum; TeraheRTZ; Detector; using

The project will develop a novel terahertz (THz) detector which will be compact, inexpensive, room-temperature, and have high sensitivity. It will exploit recent breakthroughs in manipulating and interrogating atoms in Rydberg quantum states. The engineering challenge is to miniaturise and rapidly transition the technology from laboratory to product. To this aim, a prototype will be built and characterised to demonstrate the technical feasibility of the approach. Rydberg atoms have one or more electrons in hydrogen-like quantum states, and are characterised by strong response to electromagnetic fields, in particular to fields at THz frequencies (0.1-10 THz or 3000-30 µm), in effect acting as THz optical transducers. High-sensitivity THz detectors are typically bulky and require cryogenic cooling, making them unsuitable for many applications and severely limiting the uptake of THz technologies, especially in industrial settings. The Rydberg THz detector will address this problem, offering a transformative technology for THz sensing and imaging and providing a platform for industrial applications such as non-destructive testing and quality control, and security applications for the detection of chemical and biological agents.

该项目将开发一种新颖的太赫兹（THz）探测器，该探测器将是紧凑的，廉价的，室温，并具有高灵敏度。它将利用最近在里德伯量子态中操纵和询问原子方面的突破。工程方面的挑战是验证并快速将技术从实验室转化为产品。为了实现这一目标，将建立一个原型，并以证明该方法的技术可行性。里德伯原子具有一个或多个处于类氢量子态的电子，并且其特征在于对电磁场的强烈响应，特别是对太赫兹频率（0.1-10 THz或3000-30 µm）的场，实际上充当太赫兹光学换能器。高灵敏度THz探测器通常体积庞大，需要低温冷却，使其不适合许多应用，并严重限制了THz技术的应用，特别是在工业环境中。Rydberg THz探测器将解决这一问题，为THz传感和成像提供变革性技术，并为工业应用提供平台，如无损检测和质量控制，以及用于检测化学和生物制剂的安全应用。