arXiv subjects

Kevin C. Cox

Publications and source records attributed to Kevin C. Cox.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Digital Communication with Rydberg Atoms & Amplitude-Modulated Microwave Fields

Rydberg atoms, with one highly-excited, nearly-ionized electron, have extreme sensitivity to electric fields, including microwave fields ranging from 100 MHz to over 1 THz. Here we show that room-temperature Rydberg atoms can be used as sensitive, high bandwidth, microwave communication antennas. We demonstrate near photon-shot-noise limited readout of data encoded in amplitude-modulated 17 GHz microwaves, using an electromagnetically-induced-transparency (EIT) probing scheme. We measure a photon-shot-noise limited channel capacity of up to 8.2 Mbit/s and implement an 8-state phase-shift-keying digital communication protocol. The bandwidth of the EIT probing scheme is found to be limited by the available coupling laser power and the natural linewidth of the rubidium D2 transition. We discuss how atomic communications receivers offer several opportunities to surpass the capabilities of classical antennas.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2018

Quantum-Limited Atomic Receiver in the Electrically Small Regime

We use a quantum sensor based on thermal Rydberg atoms to receive data encoded in electromagnetic fields in the extreme electrically small regime, with a sensing volume over $10^7$ times smaller than the cube of the electric field wavelength. We introduce the standard quantum limit for data capacity, and experimentally observe quantum-limited data reception for bandwidths from 10~kHz up to 30~MHz. In doing this, we provide a useful alternative to classical communication antennas, which become increasingly ineffective when the size of the antenna is significantly smaller than the wavelength of the electromagnetic field.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2018

30-Fold Increase in Atom-Cavity Coupling Using a Parabolic Ring Cavity

Optical cavities are one of the best ways to increase atom-light coupling and will be a key ingredient for future quantum technologies that rely on light-matter interfaces. We demonstrate that traveling-wave "ring" cavities can achieve a greatly reduced mode waist $w$, leading to larger atom-cavity coupling strength, relative to conventional standing-wave cavities for given mirror separation and stability. Additionally, ring cavities can achieve arbitrary transverse-mode spacing simultaneously with the large mode-waist reductions. Following these principles, we build a parabolic atom-ring cavity system that achieves strong collective coupling $NC = 15(1)$ between $N=10^3$ Rb atoms and a ring cavity with a single-atom cooperativity $C$ that is a factor of $35(5)$ times greater than what could be achieved with a near-confocal standing-wave cavity with the same mirror separation and finesse. By using parabolic mirrors, we eliminate astigmatism--which can otherwise preclude stable operation--and increase optical access to the atoms. Cavities based on these principles, with enhanced coupling and large mirror separation, will be particularly useful for achieving strong coupling with ions, Rydberg atoms, or other strongly interacting particles, which often have undesirable interactions with nearby surfaces.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2016

Spatially Homogeneous Entanglement for Matter-Wave Interferometry Created with Time-Averaged Measurements

We demonstrate a method to generate spatially homogeneous entangled, spin-squeezed states of atoms appropriate for maintaining a large amount of squeezing even after release into the arm of a matter-wave interferometer or other free space quantum sensor. Using an effective intracavity dipole trap, we allow atoms to move along the cavity axis and time average their coupling to the standing wave used to generate entanglement via collective measurements, demonstrating 11(1) dB of directly observed spin squeezing. Our results show that time averaging in collective measurements can greatly reduce the impact of spatially inhomogeneous coupling to the measurement apparatus.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2016

Deterministic Squeezed States with Joint Measurements and Feedback

We demonstrate the creation of entangled, spin-squeezed states using a collective, or joint, measurement and real-time feedback. The pseudospin state of an ensemble of $N= 5\times 10^4$ laser-cooled $^{87}$Rb atoms is deterministically driven to a specified population state with angular resolution that is a factor of 5.5(8) [7.4(6)~dB] in variance below the standard quantum limit for unentangled atoms --- comparable to the best enhancements using only unitary evolution. Without feedback, conditioning on the outcome of the joint premeasurement, we directly observe up to 59(8) times [17.7(6)~dB] improvement in quantum phase variance relative to the standard quantum limit for $N=4\times 10^5$ atoms. This is one of the largest reported entanglement enhancements to date in any system.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2015

Generating Entanglement between Atomic Spins with Low-Noise Probing of an Optical Cavity

Atomic projection noise limits the ultimate precision of all atomic sensors, including clocks, inertial sensors, magnetometers, etc. The independent quantum collapse of $N$ atoms into a definite state (for example spin up or down) leads to an uncertainty $Δθ_{SQL}=1/\sqrt{N}$ in the estimate of the quantum phase accumulated during a Ramsey sequence or its many generalizations. This phase uncertainty is referred to as the standard quantum limit. Creating quantum entanglement between the $N$ atoms can allow the atoms to partially cancel each other's quantum noise, leading to reduced noise in the phase estimate below the standard quantum limit. Recent experiments have demonstrated up to $10$~dB of phase noise reduction relative to the SQL by making collective spin measurements. This is achieved by trapping laser-cooled Rb atoms in an optical cavity and precisely measuring the shift of the cavity resonance frequency by an amount that depends on the number of atoms in spin up. Detecting the probe light with high total efficiency reduces excess classical and quantum back-action of the probe. Here we discuss recent progress and a technique for reducing the relative frequency noise between the probe light and the optical cavity, a key requirement for further advances.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2015

Phase Synchronization between Two Superradiant Lasers

We experimentally demonstrate synchronization between two distinct ensembles of cold atoms undergoing steady state superradiance within a single longitudinal and transverse mode of the same optical cavity. The synchronization process is studied first in terms of the time dynamics of re-synchronization when the phase alignment of the two oscillators is abruptly broken. We also observe the steady state behavior of the lasers as their relative frequency is continuously varied. This system has the potential to realize a non-equilibrium quantum phase transition and could inform future implementations of milliHertz linewidth lasers.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2014

Reducing Collective Quantum State Rotation Errors with Reversible Dephasing

We demonstrate that reversible dephasing via inhomogeneous broadening can greatly reduce collective quantum state rotation errors, and observe the suppression of rotation errors by more than 21 dB in the context of collective population measurements of the spin states of an ensemble of $2.1 \times 10^5$ laser cooled and trapped $^{87}$Rb atoms. The large reduction in rotation noise enables direct resolution of spin state populations 13(1) dB below the fundamental quantum projection noise limit. Further, the spin state measurement projects the system into an entangled state with 9.5(5) dB of directly observed spectroscopic enhancement (squeezing) relative to the standard quantum limit, whereas no enhancement would have been obtained without the suppression of rotation errors.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2014

Phase diagram for injection locking a superradiant laser

We experimentally and theoretically study the response of a superradiant or bad-cavity laser to an applied coherent drive. We observe two forms of synchronization (injection locking) between the superradiant ensemble and the applied drive: one attractive and one repulsive in nature. We explain the region of repulsion as arising from the higher three-dimensional description of the atomic spin state that stores the laser coherence in a superradiant laser, as opposed to a two-parameter description of the electric field in a traditional good-cavity laser. We derive a phase diagram of predicted behavior and experimentally measure the response of the system across various trajectories therein.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2014

Cavity-aided non-demolition measurements for atom counting and spin squeezing

Probing the collective spin state of an ensemble of atoms may provide a means to reduce heating via the photon recoil associated with the measurement and provide a robust, scalable route for preparing highly entangled states with spectroscopic sensitivity below the standard quantum limit for coherent spin states. The collective probing relies on obtaining a very large optical depth that can be effectively increased by placing the ensemble within an optical cavity such that the probe light passes many times through the ensemble. Here we provide expressions for measurement resolution and spectroscopic enhancement in such cavity-aided non-demolition measurements as a function of cavity detuning. In particular, fundamental limits on spectroscopic enhancements in $^{87}$Rb are considered.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2013

Linear response theory for superradiant lasers

We theoretically study a superradiant laser, deriving both the steady-state behaviors and small-amplitude responses of the laser's atomic inversion, atomic polarization, and light field amplitude. Our minimum model for a three-level laser includes atomic population accumulating outside of the lasing transition and dynamics of the atomic population distribution causing cavity frequency tuning, as can occur in realistic experimental systems. We show that the population dynamics can act as real-time feedback to stabilize or de-stabilize the laser's output power, and we derive the cavity frequency tuning for a Raman laser. We extend the minimal model to describe a cold-atom Raman laser using $^{87}$Rb, showing that the minimal model qualitatively captures the essential features of the more complex system. This work informs our understanding of the stability of proposed millihertz linewidth lasers based on ultranarrow optical atomic transitions and will guide the design and development of these next-generation optical frequency references.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2013

Reduced back-action for phase sensitivity 10 times beyond the standard quantum limit

Collective measurements can project a system into an entangled state with enhanced sensitivity for measuring a quantum phase, but measurement back-action has limited previous efforts to only modest improvements. Here we use a collective measurement to produce and directly observe, with no background subtraction, an entangled, spin-squeezed state with phase resolution improved in variance by a factor of 10.5(1.5), or 10.2(6) dB, compared to the initially unentangled ensemble of N = 4.8 x 10^5 87Rb atoms. The measurement uses a cavity-enhanced probe of an optical cycling transition to mitigate back-action associated with state-changing transitions induced by the probe. This work establishes collective measurements as a powerful technique for generating entanglement for precision measurement, with potential impacts in biological sensing, communication, navigation, and tests of fundamental physics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Relaxation oscillations, stability, and cavity feedback in a superradiant Raman laser

We experimentally study the relaxation oscillations and amplitude stability properties of an optical laser operating deep into the bad-cavity regime using a laser-cooled $^{87}$Rb Raman laser. By combining measurements of the laser light field with nondemolition measurements of the atomic populations, we infer the response of the gain medium represented by a collective atomic Bloch vector. The results are qualitatively explained with a simple model. Measurements and theory are extended to include the effect of intermediate repumping states on the closed-loop stability of the oscillator and the role of cavity feedback on stabilizing or enhancing relaxation oscillations. This experimental study of the stability of an optical laser operating deep into the bad-cavity regime will guide future development of superradiant lasers with ultranarrow linewidths.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2012

Superradiant Raman Laser Magnetometer

We demonstrate a proof-of-principle magnetometer that relies on the active oscillation of a cold atom Raman laser to continuously map a field-sensitive atomic phase onto the phase of the radiated light. We demonstrate wideband sensitivity during continuous active oscillation, as well as narrowband sensitivity in passive Ramsey-like mode with translation of the narrowband detection in frequency using spin-echo techniques. The sensor operates with a sensitivity of 190 pT/Hz^(1/2) at 1 kHz and effective sensing volume of 2 * 10^-3 mm^3. Fundamental quantum limits on the magnetic field sensitivity of an ideal detector are also considered.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2012

Dynamically controlled superradiant laser for hybrid sensing of collective atomic coherence

We implement dynamic control of a superradiant, cold atom $^{87}$Rb Raman laser to realize the equivalent of conditional Ramsey spectroscopy for sensing atomic phase shifts. Our method uses the non-demolition mapping of the collective quantum phase of an ensemble of two-level atoms onto the phase of a detected cavity light field. We show that the fundamental precision of the non-demolition measurement can theoretically approach the standard quantum limit on phase estimation for a coherent spin state, the traditional benchmark for Ramsey spectroscopy. Finally, we propose a hybrid optical lattice clock based on this method that combines continuous and discrete measurements to realize both high precision and accuracy.

physics.atom-ph↗