arXiv subjects

Nelson L. Rowell

Publications and source records attributed to Nelson L. Rowell.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2005

Microwave Power Standard using Cold Atoms

We discuss how the observation of Rabi flopping oscillations in a laser cooled atomic sample could be used as a microwave power standard. The rubidium atoms are first trapped in a standard MOT, then optically pumped, and dropped. As they enter the interaction region, a resonant pulsed microwave field is applied. Following the interaction lasting up to 10 ms, a probe laser beam is turned on and the fluorescence measures the population inversion.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2005

Accuracy of an Atomic Microwave Power Standard (Conference digest)

We have studied the accuracy of the atomic microwave power standard. The atoms are cooled and kept in a Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT), then dropped through a terminated transmission line (a rectangular, R-70 type, waveguide). The measurement of the internal atomic state allows an accurate determination of the transmitted microwave power.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2005

Realization of a Laser Cooled Microwave Power Standard (conference digest)

We demonstrate the feasibility of a novel microwave power standard based on the electromagnetic interaction with cold atoms. Under the effect of the radiation, the internal state populations will undergo a Rabi oscillation. The measurement of its frequency will allow the determination of the electromagnetic field strength.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2005

Accuracy of an Atomic Microwave Power Standard

We have built an atomic microwave power standard based on the electromagnetic interaction with laser-cooled atoms. The atoms traversed a waveguide transmission line, and under the effect of the radiation, the internal state populations underwent a Rabi flopping oscillation. Measurement of the oscillation frequency allowed the determination of the incident microwave power. As many of 60 oscillations were observed over a dynamic range of 20 dB and the standard deviation of the measurements was about 0.02%. The measured frequency was compared to a calculated one and an agreement of 1.3% with an uncertainty of 5% (rectangular) was found.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2005

Realization of a Laser Cooled Microwave Power Standard

We demonstrate the feasibility of a novel microwave power standard based on the electromagnetic interaction with laser-cooled atoms. Under the effect of the radiation, the internal state populations undergo a Rabi flopping oscillation. Measurement of the oscillation frequency allows the determination of the electromagnetic field strength. The measurements are made over a dynamic range of 18 dB and the standard deviation of the measurements is about 0.3%. The field strength was linear with the Rabi frequency within the accuracy of our measurements.

physics.atom-ph↗