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

摘要：量子计算和光通信需要在宽频率范围内的相干光源。 在光纤网络中使用的“电信”波长与量子计算中用于原子系统的波长之间进行转换的能力是进一步发展通信技术的重要组成部分，并将使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其敏感，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线的高传输。 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工作人员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职业。技术观众摘要：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。 该过程利用铷原子被激发到具有n50的里德伯能级，使得附近状态之间的跃迁与微波频率共振。 本工作的主要目的是证明利用热铷原子中的六波混频作为微波-红外频率转换方法的可行性。 通过在一个称为波混合的过程中同时应用连接原子状态的多个激光器，将产生新的定向和相干光源，包括光学和微波，并优化其生成过程。 其输出的功率和频率特性将作为输入源的功率、极化和频率以及所使用的里德伯态的函数进行探索。 这项研究将提供铷原子中波混合的分析，这有可能大大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，同时仍然使用常见的和方便的原子系统。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过评估使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准的支持。

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.