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Terahertz electrometry via infrared spectroscopy of atomic vapor

Chen, Shuying; Reed, Dominic J.; MacKellar, Andrew R.; Downes, Lucy A.; Almuhawish, Nourah F.A.; Jamieson, Matthew J.; Adams, Charles S.; Weatherill, Kevin J.

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Authors

Shuying Chen

Dominic J. Reed

Profile image of Lucy Downes

Lucy Downes lucy.downes@durham.ac.uk
Post Doctoral Research Associate

Nourah F.A. Almuhawish



Abstract

In recent years, the characterisation of radiation falling within the so-called ‘terahertz (THz) gap’ has become an ever more prominent issue due to the increasing use of THz systems in applications such as nondestructive testing, security screening, telecommunications, and medical diagnostics. THz detection technologies have advanced rapidly, yet traceable calibration of THz radiation remains challenging. In this paper, we demonstrate a system of electrometry in which a THz signal can be characterized using laser spectroscopy of highly excited (Rydberg) atomic states. We report on proof-of-principle measurements that reveal a minimum detectable THz electric field amplitude of 1.070.06 V/m at 1.06 THz (3 ms detection), corresponding to a THz power at the atomic cell of approximately 3.4 nW. Due to the relative simplicity and cryogen-free nature of this system, it has the potential to provide a route to a SI traceable ‘atomic candle’ for THz calibration across the terahertz frequency range, and provide an alternative to calorimetric methods.

Citation

Chen, S., Reed, D. J., MacKellar, A. R., Downes, L. A., Almuhawish, N. F., Jamieson, M. J., …Weatherill, K. J. (2022). Terahertz electrometry via infrared spectroscopy of atomic vapor. Optica, 9(5), 485-491. https://doi.org/10.1364/optica.456761

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 4, 2022
Online Publication Date Apr 29, 2022
Publication Date 2022
Deposit Date Mar 29, 2022
Publicly Available Date Jul 18, 2022
Journal Optica
Publisher Optica
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 9
Issue 5
Pages 485-491
DOI https://doi.org/10.1364/optica.456761
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1209773

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Publisher Licence URL
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Copyright Statement
Published by Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Further distribution of this work
must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.






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