Optimal Atomic Quantum Sensing using EIT Readout

Abstract

Quantum sensors offer the capability to reach unprecedented precision by operating at the standard quantum limit (SQL) or beyond by using quantum entanglement. But an emerging class of quantum sensors that use Rydberg electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) to detect rf electric fields have yet to reach the SQL. In this work we prove that this discrepancy is due to fundamental limitations in the EIT probing mechanism. We derive the optimum sensitivity of a three-level quantum sensor based on EIT, or more generally coherent spectroscopy, and compare this to the SQL. We apply a minimal set of assumptions, while allowing strong probing fields, thermal broadening, and large optical depth. We derive the optimal laser intensities and optical depth, providing specific guidelines for sensitive operation under common experimental conditions. Clear boundaries of performance are established, revealing that ladder-EIT can not achieve the SQL due to unavoidable absorption loss. The results may be applied to any EIT-based quantum sensor, but we particularly emphasize our results' importance to the growing field of Rydberg quantum sensing.

12 pages, 6 figures

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• Atom Interferometers
• Broadband Rydberg Atom-Based Electric-Field Probe: From Self-Calibrated Measurements to Sub-Wavelength Imaging
• Atom Interferometry tests of the isotropy of post-Newtonian gravity
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• Assessment of Rydberg Atoms for Wideband Electric Field Sensing
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• Sensitivity Comparison of Two-photon vs Three-photon Rydberg Electrometry
• Very-high- and ultrahigh- frequency electric field detection using high angular momentum Rydberg states
• RydIQule: A Graph-based Paradigm for Modelling Rydberg and Atomic Systems
• Intra-Cavity Frequency-Doubled VECSEL System for Narrow Linewidth Rydberg EIT Spectroscopy
• Doppler sensitivity and resonant tuning of Rydberg atom-based antennas
• Thermal resonance-enhanced transparency in room temperature Rydberg gases
• Fisher information analysis on quantum-enhanced parameter estimation in electromagnetically-induced-transparency spectrum with single photons
• Fundamental trade-off between the speed of light and the Fano factor of photon current in three-level lambda systems
• Doppler-Enhanced Quantum Magnetometry with thermal Rydberg atoms
• EIT Spectroscopy of Rydberg Levels Dressed by Linearly Polarized RF fields: Complementary Angular Response for Two Types of Transition Ladders