We propose a method for reducing the sensitivity of atomic ground-to-Rydberg transitions to stray dc electric fields, using microwave-induced dressing of Rydberg states. Calculations are presented for the Cs $90S_{1/2}$ and $90P_{3/2}$ states. With zero dc bias electric field, a two-frequency ac field is used to simultaneously reduce the sensitivity of both states to dc field variations. The sensitivity reduction is a factor of 95 for the $90S_{1/2}$ state and a factor of 1600 for the $90P_{3/2},m_J=3/2$ state. We also show how the two-frequency ac field can be used to cancel both second- and fourth-order terms in the polarizability of a single Rydberg state. These results are relevant to improving the stability of experiments that seek to excite Rydberg atoms in the proximity of charged surfaces.

• Received 11 September 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.97.012515