Stability Assessment of Rydberg Electromagnetically Induced Transparency Locking via Optical Heterodyne Spectroscopy

Frequency locking to reference atomic lines using Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) has been recently introduced as an inexpensive and reliable technique for laser frequency stabilization. In this work, we carry out a systematic study of this technique using heterodyne beat spec...

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Main Authors: Qiuyu Yin, Yanzhao Liang, Haitao Lin, Ning Ji, Thibault Vogt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Photonics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/4/374
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author Qiuyu Yin
Yanzhao Liang
Haitao Lin
Ning Ji
Thibault Vogt
author_facet Qiuyu Yin
Yanzhao Liang
Haitao Lin
Ning Ji
Thibault Vogt
author_sort Qiuyu Yin
collection DOAJ
description Frequency locking to reference atomic lines using Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) has been recently introduced as an inexpensive and reliable technique for laser frequency stabilization. In this work, we carry out a systematic study of this technique using heterodyne beat spectroscopy. Two different commercial semi-conductor lasers are locked to the same reference frequency using EIT locking, and their relative frequency stability is analyzed and continuously monitored in real time. A substantial improvement in the laser frequency stability is achieved through searching for the optimal proportional–integral settings and EIT probe laser powers. The results show that the cutoff frequency of the beat signal can be lowered to less than 500 kHz. We also compare the frequencies of free running lasers with that of a locked laser and characterize their frequency drifts. This study is important in assessing the use of Rydberg EIT locking in atomic electrometers.
format Article
id doaj-art-670a918c3d5f480a888796f0a637c8ca
institution OA Journals
issn 2304-6732
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Photonics
spelling doaj-art-670a918c3d5f480a888796f0a637c8ca2025-08-20T02:28:38ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322025-04-0112437410.3390/photonics12040374Stability Assessment of Rydberg Electromagnetically Induced Transparency Locking via Optical Heterodyne SpectroscopyQiuyu Yin0Yanzhao Liang1Haitao Lin2Ning Ji3Thibault Vogt4School of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, ChinaSchool of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, ChinaSchool of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, ChinaSchool of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, ChinaSchool of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, ChinaFrequency locking to reference atomic lines using Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) has been recently introduced as an inexpensive and reliable technique for laser frequency stabilization. In this work, we carry out a systematic study of this technique using heterodyne beat spectroscopy. Two different commercial semi-conductor lasers are locked to the same reference frequency using EIT locking, and their relative frequency stability is analyzed and continuously monitored in real time. A substantial improvement in the laser frequency stability is achieved through searching for the optimal proportional–integral settings and EIT probe laser powers. The results show that the cutoff frequency of the beat signal can be lowered to less than 500 kHz. We also compare the frequencies of free running lasers with that of a locked laser and characterize their frequency drifts. This study is important in assessing the use of Rydberg EIT locking in atomic electrometers.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/4/374laser frequency stabilizationoptical heterodyne spectroscopyelectromagnetically induced transparencyRydberg statesatomic electrometry
spellingShingle Qiuyu Yin
Yanzhao Liang
Haitao Lin
Ning Ji
Thibault Vogt
Stability Assessment of Rydberg Electromagnetically Induced Transparency Locking via Optical Heterodyne Spectroscopy
Photonics
laser frequency stabilization
optical heterodyne spectroscopy
electromagnetically induced transparency
Rydberg states
atomic electrometry
title Stability Assessment of Rydberg Electromagnetically Induced Transparency Locking via Optical Heterodyne Spectroscopy
title_full Stability Assessment of Rydberg Electromagnetically Induced Transparency Locking via Optical Heterodyne Spectroscopy
title_fullStr Stability Assessment of Rydberg Electromagnetically Induced Transparency Locking via Optical Heterodyne Spectroscopy
title_full_unstemmed Stability Assessment of Rydberg Electromagnetically Induced Transparency Locking via Optical Heterodyne Spectroscopy
title_short Stability Assessment of Rydberg Electromagnetically Induced Transparency Locking via Optical Heterodyne Spectroscopy
title_sort stability assessment of rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency locking via optical heterodyne spectroscopy
topic laser frequency stabilization
optical heterodyne spectroscopy
electromagnetically induced transparency
Rydberg states
atomic electrometry
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/4/374
work_keys_str_mv AT qiuyuyin stabilityassessmentofrydbergelectromagneticallyinducedtransparencylockingviaopticalheterodynespectroscopy
AT yanzhaoliang stabilityassessmentofrydbergelectromagneticallyinducedtransparencylockingviaopticalheterodynespectroscopy
AT haitaolin stabilityassessmentofrydbergelectromagneticallyinducedtransparencylockingviaopticalheterodynespectroscopy
AT ningji stabilityassessmentofrydbergelectromagneticallyinducedtransparencylockingviaopticalheterodynespectroscopy
AT thibaultvogt stabilityassessmentofrydbergelectromagneticallyinducedtransparencylockingviaopticalheterodynespectroscopy