High sensitivity THz detection by Rydberg dark states

As terahertz (THz) technology rapidly develops, room temperature THz detectors with high sensitivity and wide bandwidth are urgently required. Rydberg atoms are very sensitive to external electric fields, and offer a promising approach for THz detection with exceptional sensitivity. In this paper, we propose a method for measuring the THz field with the frequency of 0.17 THz using ⁸⁵Rb Rydberg atoms. By analyzing the probe laser transmission spectrum and atomic population, the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and Autler-Townes (AT) splitting effect are explained by the presence and splitting of the Rydberg dark states; the THz field, coupling laser and probe laser play a crucial role in the EIT signal; and the EIT spectral transmission will increase when the atomic population of the excited state decreases. Moreover, a method was demonstrated to improve the THz detection sensitivity by changing the eigenfrequencies of the Rydberg dark states with THz detuning. This work finds the relationship between EIT-AT effect and atomic population of Rydberg atoms caused by THz wave and provides what we believe to be a new method to improve the detection efficiency.