Magnetic-field-induced splitting of Rydberg Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) and Autler-Townes (AT) spectra in $^{87}$Rb vapor cell

TL;DR

This paper combines theoretical and experimental approaches to study how magnetic fields influence Rydberg EIT and AT spectra in $^{87}$Rb vapor, revealing spectral splitting and enhancing microwave electric field sensing capabilities.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified analytical model for EIT-AT spectra under magnetic fields and demonstrates improved microwave electric field measurement sensitivity.

Findings

Spectral peaks split due to magnetic and microwave field interactions.

Analytical formula matches experimental spectra accurately.

Enhanced sensitivity extends measurement limit for weak electric fields.

Abstract

We theoretically and experimentally investigate the Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and Autler-Townes (AT) splitting of $^{87}$Rb vapor under the combined influence of a magnetic field and a microwave field. In the presence of static magnetic field, the effect of the microwave field leads to the dressing and splitting of each $m_F$ state, resulting in multiple spectral peaks in the EIT-AT spectrum. A simplified analytical formula was developed to explain the EIT-AT spectrum in a static magnetic field, and the calculations are in excellent agreement with experimental results.We further studied the enhancement of the Rydberg atom microwave electric field sensor performance by making use of the splitting interval between the two maximum absolute $m_F$ states under static magnetic field. The traceable measurement limit of weak electric field by EIT-AT splitting method was extended by an order of magnitude, which is promising for precise microwave electric field measurement.