Description

This fellowship opportunity, offered through the NRC Research Associateship Programs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), focuses on advancing atom-based sensor technology by developing Rydberg atom-based detectors for blackbody radiation (BBR). Atom-based sensors have revolutionized measurement standards for length, frequency, and time, and recent progress has extended their application to magnetic and electric field sensing. Rydberg atom-based radio-frequency electric field sensors can measure amplitude, polarization, and phase, enabling applications such as SI-traceable E-field probes, power sensors, voltage standards, and communication signal receivers.

The goal of this project is to extend these sensors into the incoherent radiation domain to measure blackbody radiation, which is critical for radiometry, temperature dissemination, and remote sensing. A calibration-free Rydberg atom detector could provide new methods for BBR source calibration and thermometry, potentially improving measurement accuracy and enabling novel applications.

Key Features:

• Research conducted at NIST's Communications Technology Laboratory, Radio Frequency Technology Division in Boulder, CO.
• Focus on quantum sensor development using Rydberg atoms.
• Potential applications in metrology and remote sensing.
• Mentorship by NIST scientists with access to state-of-the-art facilities.