Rydberg atoms with a reduced sensitivity to dc and low-frequency electric fields

Abstract

A nonresonant microwave dressing field at $38.465\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GHz}$ was used to eliminate the static electric dipole moment difference between the $49{s}_{1/2}$ and $48{s}_{1/2}$ Rydberg states of ${}^{87}$Rb in dc fields of $\ensuremath{\approx}1\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{cm}$. The reduced susceptibility to electric field fluctuations was measured using two-photon microwave spectroscopy. An anomalous spectral doublet is attributed to polarization ellipticity in the dressing field. The demonstrated ability to inhibit static dipole moment differences, while retaining sensitivity to high frequency fields, is applicable to sensors and/or quantum devices using Rydberg atoms.