CM-AMO Seminar | Mapping Plasma Electric Fields with Quantum-Coherent Rydberg Atoms

Electric fields govern the transport of particles in plasmas, yet measuring them without perturbing the system remains notoriously difficult. Non-perturbative, high-precision spatial measurements are essential for providing critical information on plasma dynamics and validating computational models of complex physics at plasma-material interfaces.

In this talk, I will present the experimental realization of an optical diagnostic that leverages quantum coherence for DC electric field measurements in a plasma environment. Our method is based on the effect of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) in a three-level atomic system to read out the Stark-split energy levels of highly excited (Rydberg) rubidium atoms. By imaging the fluorescence spectrum of these Rydberg atoms with an infrared camera, we can precisely map the Stark splitting to provide a direct and high-resolution visualization of inhomogeneous fields and screening effects near biased surfaces. This approach builds upon our group’s previous efforts to measure the extremely low fields produced by high-energy charged-particle beams and demonstrates the power of Rydberg-based quantum sensing for advanced plasma diagnostics.

Bio sketch: Mykhailo Vorobiov is a Postdoctoral Research associate in physics at the College of William & Mary. His current work primarily focuses on developing quantum optical techniques for electric field sensing.