Progress Towards the Development of a Rydberg-Based Particle Beam Detector

We are developing a non-invasive measurement of electron beam position and size using ⁸⁵Rb atomic vapor via detection of a two photon electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) to a highly excited Rydberg state. We use a 780 nm laser to excite from 5S_1/2 (F = 3) to 5P_3/2 F' and a 480 nm laser to excite the atoms to the 58D Rydberg state. The electric field produced by the electron beam induces a DC Stark shift to the highly excited Rydberg energy level that is detected by a frequency shift of the EIT peak in the recorded spectra. We show the preliminary results of detecting the electric field produced only by the electron beam in our experimental apparatus and discuss how this method can be used not only in electron beam detection, but other charged particles and plasmas.