Telecom-wavelength spectra of a Rydberg state in a hot vapor

Abstract: We study telecom-wavelength spectra of a Rydberg state in an atomic vapor with a three-photon excitation scheme. Two lasers of 780 nm and 776 nm are used to pump Rubidium-85 atoms in a vapor cell to the $5D_{\mathrm{5/2}}$ state, from which a probe beam of 1292 nm in the O-band telecommunication wavelength drives a transition to the $21F_{\mathrm{7/2}}$ Rydberg state. We investigate the probe spectra over the power of pump lasers. The simulation based on a 4-level theoretical model captures the main features of the experimental results. This spectroscopic study paves the way for future experiments of making a direct link between fiber optics and radio transmission via Rydberg atoms.