• sensors
• electric fields
• Rydberg
• compensation
• Stark shift

Atoms with an electron in an energy level with high principal quantum number n are known as Rydberg atoms.

The subject of my thesis is related to the the extreme sensitivity of Rydberg atoms to electric fields.

If we introduce an electric field the energy is shifted due to the Stark effect.

In my thesis the shift of Rydberg energy levels in $^{87} Rb$ atoms is investigated and the observation of spectra of high Rydberg states is used as diagnostic method to detect the presence of a stray electric field in our experiment. Experimental Stark maps are compared with calculated results obtained by using a library written in Python, Alkali Rydberg Calculator (ARC).
A technique based on the Stark effect on $nS$ states is described to compensate the stray electric field in the experimental volume. This study has led to a reduction of the
residual fields by $ 85\%$ down to values around $\sim 30mV/cm$.

This thesis presents: an overview of properties of Rydberg atoms; the description of the apparatus; simulations of the electric field in the experiment by using COMSOL Multiphysics software; the discussion of the use of ARC; the presentation of the experimental results;
finally, the influence of electric fields on the measurement of lifetime of Rydberg atoms.

In fact, studies of Rydberg states properties require stray fields in the experimental region be minimized. This work presents a systematic approach utilizing the Stark effect to accomplish it.