Precise measurement of microwave polarization using a Rydberg atom-based mixer

Abstract

A Rydberg atom-based mixer has opened up a new method to characterize microwave electric fields such as the precise measurement of their phase and strength. This study further demonstrates, theoretically and experimentally, a method to accurately measure the polarization of a microwave electric field based on a Rydberg atom-based mixer. The results show that the amplitude of the beat note changes with the polarization of the microwave electric field in a period of 180 degrees, and in the linear region a polarization resolution better than 0.5 degree can be easily obtained which reaches the best level by a Rydberg atomic sensor. More interestingly, the mixer-based measurements are immune to the polarization of the light field that forms the Rydberg EIT. This method considerably simplifies theoretical analysis and the experimental system required for measuring microwave polarization using Rydberg atoms and is of interest in microwave sensing.