Optimal State Choice for Rydberg-Atom Microwave Sensors

Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) enables realization of atom-based SI-traceable microwave (MW) sensing, imaging and communication devices by exploiting the strong electric dipole coupling highly excited states. Essential to development robust is a careful characterization sensor performance systematic uncertainties. In this work we present comparison microwave-induced EIT splitting in cesium atomic vapor for four possible couplings $65S_{1/2}\rightarrow 65P_{1/2}$, $66S_{1/2}\rightarrow 66P_{3/2}$, $79D_{5/2}\rightarrow 81P_{3/2}$ $62D_{5/2}\rightarrow 60F_{7/2}$ at transition frequencies around 13 GHz. Our highlights impact multi-photon neighboring states breaking both symmetry linearity observed splitting, with excellent agreement between experimental observations theoretical model accounting couplings. We identify an optimal angular state choice measurements, as well demonstrating new regime which polarization can be measured.