An optogalvanic gas sensor based on Rydberg excitations

We investigate the properties of a trace-gas sensing scheme based on Rydberg excitations at the example of an idealized model system. Rydberg states in thermal rubidium (Rb) are created using a 2-photon cw excitation. These Rydberg-excited atoms ionize via collisions with a background gas of nitroge...

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Published inJournal of physics. B, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Vol. 53; no. 9; pp. 94001 - 94005
Main Authors Schmidt, J, Münzenmaier, Y, Kaspar, P, Schalberger, P, Baur, H, Löw, R, Fruehauf, N, Pfau, T, Kübler, H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published IOP Publishing 17.05.2020
Subjects
collisional ionization
thermal Rydberg atoms
trace gas sensing
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Summary:We investigate the properties of a trace-gas sensing scheme based on Rydberg excitations at the example of an idealized model system. Rydberg states in thermal rubidium (Rb) are created using a 2-photon cw excitation. These Rydberg-excited atoms ionize via collisions with a background gas of nitrogen (N2). The emerging charges are then measured as an electric current, which is on the order of several picoampere. Due to the 2-photon excitation, this sensing method has a large intrinsic selectivity combined with a promising sensitivity of 10 ppb at an absolute concentration of 1 ppm. The determination of the detection limit is limited by the optical reference measurement but is at least 500 ppb.
Bibliography:JPHYSB-105709.R1
ISSN:0953-4075
1361-6455
DOI:10.1088/1361-6455/ab728e