QUAntum teraheRTZ Sensor using rydberg atoms

使用里德伯原子的量子太赫 RTZ 传感器

• 批准号: EP/R000158/1
• 负责人: Kevin Weatherill
• 金额: $ 21.05万
• 依托单位: Durham University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 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=EP%2FR000158%2F1
• 关键词: QUAntum; teraheRTZ; Sensor; using; rydberg

The project will develop a novel terahertz (THz) detector using Rydberg atoms, which will be compact, inexpensive, room-temperature, and have high sensitivity, potentially down to single photon level. It will exploit recent breakthroughs in manipulating and interrogating atoms in Rydberg quantum states. To this aim, a "proof of concept" prototype will be built and characterised. Rydberg atoms are highly excited atoms that have one or more electrons in quantum states whose energy-level structure is similar to that of the hydrogen atom. Atoms in Rydberg states are characterised by strong response to electromagnetic fields, in particular to fields at microwave and terahertz frequencies (0.01-10 THz or 30-30000 micrometers), 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 in nondestructive testing and quality control.

该项目将开发一种使用里德伯原子的新型太赫兹（THz）探测器，它将是紧凑的，廉价的，室温，并具有高灵敏度，可能低至单光子水平。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。为此，将建立一个“概念验证”原型并进行表征。里德伯原子是高度激发的原子，其具有一个或多个处于量子态的电子，其能级结构类似于氢原子的能级结构。处于里德伯态的原子的特征在于对电磁场的强烈响应，特别是对微波和太赫兹频率（0.01-10 THz或30-30000微米）的场的强烈响应，实际上充当THz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，并为无损检测和质量控制的工业应用提供平台。

项目成果

A practical guide to terahertz imaging using thermal atomic vapour

使用热原子蒸气太赫兹成像的实用指南

• DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/acb80c
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: New Journal of Physics
• 影响因子: 3.3
• 作者: Downes L

Low-drift Zeeman shifted atomic frequency reference

低漂移塞曼位移原子频率参考

• DOI: 10.1364/osac.1.000004
• 发表时间: 2018
• 期刊: OSA Continuum
• 影响因子: 1.6
• 作者: Reed D

Full-Field Terahertz Imaging at Kilohertz Frame Rates Using Atomic Vapor

• DOI: 10.1103/physrevx.10.011027
• 发表时间: 2020-02-07
• 期刊: PHYSICAL REVIEW X
• 影响因子: 12.5
• 作者: Downes, Lucy A.;MacKellar, Andrew R.;Weatherill, Kevin J.
• 通讯作者: Weatherill, Kevin J.