Heterodyne detection of Rydberg atom maser emission
Abstract
Using a very sensitive heterodyne receiver developed for millimeter radioastronomy, we have for the first time directly observed the microwave emission of Rydberg atoms in the laboratory. The source is a small system (∼10 5 atoms) of Na Rydberg atoms optically pumped in a microwave cavity, which acts as a pulsed maser on the 33 S → 32 P transition at 107.8 GHz. Typical signals have a power of several 10 -12 watts and a duration of 0.3 μs.
- Publication:
-
Optics Communications
- Pub Date:
- April 1980
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 1980OptCo..33...47M
- Keywords:
-
- Atomic Spectra;
- Maser Outputs;
- Millimeter Waves;
- Optical Heterodyning;
- Rydberg Series;
- Cavity Resonators;
- Pulsed Radiation;
- Radio Astronomy;
- Sodium;
- Lasers and Masers