Abstract: An apparatus and a method for measuring a microwave electric field at continuous frequencies based on an alternating current (AC) Stark effect of Rydberg atoms. A cesium vapor cell is used as an atomic sample cell. A cesium atom is excited to a Rydberg state by using detection light and coupling light that are emitted by two laser light sources, an electromagnetically induced transparency spectrum is generated. Further, a strong electric field is used as a local field EL, to cause AC Stark frequency shift and splitting of a Rydberg energy level. ES of to-be-detected signal electric field is applied. In this case, the Rydberg atom serves as a frequency converter, to directly read a beat frequency signal ?f of the local field and the signal field. From the beat signal, the strength of Es of signal filed can be directly read out.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for measuring a microwave electric field at continuous frequencies based on an alternating current (AC) Stark effect of Rydberg atoms. A cesium vapor cell is used as an atomic sample cell. A cesium atom is excited to a Rydberg state by using detection light and coupling light that are emitted by two laser light sources, an electromagnetically induced transparency spectrum is generated. Further, a strong electric field is used as a local field EL, to cause AC Stark frequency shift and splitting of a Rydberg energy level. ES of to-be-detected signal electric field is applied. In this case, the Rydberg atom serves as a frequency converter, to directly read a beat frequency signal ?f of the local field and the signal field. From the beat signal, the strength of ES of signal filed can be directly read out.