Telecom-wavelength spectra of a Rydberg state in a hot vapor

TL;DR

This paper investigates telecom-wavelength spectra of a Rydberg state in rubidium vapor using a three-photon excitation scheme, demonstrating potential for linking fiber optics and radio transmission with Rydberg atoms.

Contribution

It introduces a novel three-photon excitation method to observe Rydberg states at telecom wavelengths in hot vapor, supported by a theoretical model matching experimental results.

Findings

Successful excitation of Rydberg state at 1292 nm in rubidium vapor.

Theoretical model accurately reproduces spectral features.

Potential for integrating fiber optics with radio transmission using Rydberg atoms.

Abstract

We study telecom-wavelength spectra of a Rydberg state in an atomic vapor with a three-photon excitation scheme. Two lasers of 780 nm and 776 nm are used to pump Rubidium-85 atoms in a vapor cell to the $5D_{\mathrm{5/2}}$ state, from which a probe beam of 1292 nm in the O-band telecommunication wavelength drives a transition to the $21F_{\mathrm{7/2}}$ Rydberg state. We investigate the probe spectra over the power of pump lasers. The simulation based on a 4-level theoretical model captures the main features of the experimental results. This spectroscopic study paves the way for future experiments of making a direct link between fiber optics and radio transmission via Rydberg atoms.