Efficient microwave-to-optical conversion using Rydberg atoms

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a microwave-to-optical conversion method using Rydberg atoms with a 5% efficiency and proposes a scheme to surpass 60% efficiency through resonant six-wave mixing.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel six-wave mixing technique in Rydberg atoms for microwave-to-optical conversion with significant efficiency improvements.

Findings

Achieved 5% photon conversion efficiency in the linear regime.

Theoretically outlined a scheme for over 60% efficiency.

Proposed a realistic experimental setup for enhanced conversion.

Abstract

We demonstrate microwave-to-optical conversion using six-wave mixing in $^{87}$Rb atoms where the microwave field couples to two atomic Rydberg states, and propagates collinearly with the converted optical field. We achieve a photon conversion efficiency of ~5% in the linear regime of the converter. In addition, we theoretically investigate all-resonant six-wave mixing and outline a realistic experimental scheme for reaching efficiencies greater than 60%.