Driving Rydberg-Rydberg transitions from a co-planar microwave waveguide

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates coherent control of helium Rydberg atoms near a co-planar microwave waveguide, characterizing Rydberg-Rydberg transitions and coherence times at microwave frequencies between 25 and 38 GHz.

Contribution

It presents the first experimental study of Rydberg-Rydberg transitions near a solid-state co-planar waveguide at microwave frequencies, including characterization of stray fields and coherence times.

Findings

Rydberg-Rydberg transitions observed between 25-38 GHz.

Coherence times of approximately 250 ns measured.

Stray electric fields characterized in frequency and time domains.

Abstract

The coherent interaction between ensembles of helium Rydberg atoms and microwave fields in the vicinity of a solid-state co-planar waveguide is reported. Rydberg-Rydberg transitions, at frequencies between 25 GHz and 38 GHz, have been studied for states with principal quantum numbers in the range 30 - 35 by selective electric-field ionization. An experimental apparatus cooled to 100 K was used to reduce effects of blackbody radiation. Inhomogeneous, stray electric fields emanating from the surface of the waveguide have been characterized in frequency- and time-resolved measurements and coherence times of the Rydberg atoms on the order of 250 ns have been determined.