arXiv subjects

Gianluca Allinson

Publications and source records attributed to Gianluca Allinson.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Rydberg Receivers for Space Applications

Rydberg-atom sensors convert radiofrequency, microwave and terahertz fields into optical signals with SI-traceable calibration, high sensitivity, and broad tunability. This review assesses their potential for space applications by comparing five general architectures (Autler-Townes, AC-Stark, superheterodyne, radiofrequency-to-optical conversion, and fluorescence) against space application needs. We identify promising roles in radiometry, radar, terahertz sensing, and in-orbit calibration, and outline key limitations, including shot noise, sparse terahertz transitions, and currently large Size, Weight, Power and Cost. A staged roadmap highlights which uncertainties should be resolved first and how research organisations, industry and space agencies could take the lead for the different aspects.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Determination of Quantum Defects and Core Polarizability of Atomic Cesium via Terahertz and Radio-Frequency Spectroscopy in Thermal Vapor

We present new measurements of quantum defects and core polarizabilities in cesium ($^{133}$Cs), based on transition frequency measurements between Rydberg states ($14 \leq n \leq 38$) obtained through terahertz (THz) and radio-frequency spectroscopy in a thermal atomic vapor. %By detuning resonant fields coupling neighbouring Rydberg states, we observe a detuning-dependent asymmetry in the line shape which can be used to extract the frequency of the transition. We perform a global fitting of our measurements to extract quantum defects of the $s_{1/2}$, $p_{1/2}$, $p_{3/2}$, $d_{3/2}$, $d_{5/2}$, $f_{5/2}$, $f_{7/2}$, $g_{7/2}$ and $g_{9/2}$ electronic states. Transitions between high angular momentum states ($4 \leq \ell \leq 8$) were measured to extract the Cs$^{+}$ dipole and quadrupole polarizabilities. We find $α_{d} = 15.729(18)$ $a_{0}^{3}$ and $α_{q} = 76.3(1.9)$ $a_{0}^{5}$ respectively. Using these results, and accounting for the covariances between parameters in the global fit, the energies for $n\ell_{j}$ Rydberg states can be estimated to a precision of a few MHz or less.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2023

Simultaneous multi-band radio-frequency detection using high-orbital-angular-momentum states in a Rydberg-atom receiver

We demonstrate simultaneous detection of radio-frequency (RF) fields ranging from the very high-frequency (VHF) band (128 MHz) to terahertz frequencies (0.61 THz) using a caesium Rydberg-atom receiver. The RF fields are concurrently applied to a series of atomic transitions involving states of increasing orbital angular momentum, where the energy separations become progressively smaller, allowing access to a very wide range of radio frequencies. We show that the optical response of the system in the presence of the RF fields can be reproduced theoretically using a simple Lindblad-master-equation approach. Furthermore, we demonstrate experimentally that a series of amplitude-modulated tones can be detected simultaneously using multiple carrier frequencies. This demonstration opens the way for RF communications across multiple bands simultaneously using a single optical receiver.

physics.atom-ph↗