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arXiv · 2604.01513

Low frequency electric field sensing with a Rydberg beam

Jeremy Glick·John R Dickson·Josie Wood·Paul Kunz
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Abstract

We present a method for performing low frequency electric field sensing via ionization detection of Rydberg atoms in a collimated atomic beam. A collimated beam avoids much of the electric field screening effects that are common in warm vapor cells due to the accumulation of alkali-metal atoms on glass surfaces. Further, a beam facilitates a spatially separated region for high signal-to-noise readout via ionization detection. Using this approach, we measure DC Stark shifts from external fields with frequencies as low as 1 Hz. The sensor demonstrates a sensitivity of better than 1 mV/m$\sqrt{\rm {Hz}}$ for frequencies above 20 Hz and $0.14(4)$ mV/m$\sqrt{\rm {Hz}}$ above 500 Hz with a linear dynamic range of over 50 dB.

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Jeremy Glick, John R Dickson, Josie Wood, Paul Kunz. 2026-04-02. Low frequency electric field sensing with a Rydberg beam. https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.01513

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