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arXiv · 2504.21144

Electron beam characterization via fluorescence imaging of Rydberg states in atomic vapor

Rob Behary·Kevin Su·Nicolas DeStefano·Mykhailo Vorobiov·T. Averett·Alexandre Camsonne·Shukui Zhang·Charlie Fancher·Neel Malvania·Eugeniy Mikhailov·Seth Aubin·Irina Novikova
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Abstract

We demonstrate an all-optical, minimally invasive method for electron beam (e-beam) characterization using Rydberg electrometry. The e-beam passes through a dilute Rb vapor prepared in a quantum superposition of ground and Rydberg states that reduces resonant absorption in a narrow spectral region. Imaging the modifications of Rb fluorescence due to shifts in the Rydberg state from the e-beam electric field allows us to reconstruct e-beam width, centroid position, and current. We experimentally demonstrate this technique using a 20 keV e-beam in the range of currents down to 20 $\mu$A, and discuss technical challenges produced by environmental electric potentials in the detection chamber. Overall, we demonstrate the promising potential of such an approach as a minimally invasive diagnostic for charged particle beams.

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Rob Behary, Kevin Su, Nicolas DeStefano, Mykhailo Vorobiov, T. Averett, Alexandre Camsonne, Shukui Zhang, Charlie Fancher, Neel Malvania, Eugeniy Mikhailov, Seth Aubin, Irina Novikova. 2025-04-29. Electron beam characterization via fluorescence imaging of Rydberg states in atomic vapor. https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.21144

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