Microwave sensor using autler-townes splitting

A microwave sensor system comprising:

• an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) cell containing a microwave field and quantum particles within the microwave field;
• a laser system for directing a probe laser beam and a coupling laser beam into the UHV cell so that they intersect within the UHV cell to define a Rydberg intersection within the microwave field, the Rydberg intersection containing quantum particles in a first Rydberg state and a second Rydberg state;
• a frequency scanner for frequency sweeping the probe laser beam;
• an imager for capturing a frequency spectrum of the probe laser beam downstream of the Rydberg intersection;
• and
• an image analyzer for:
• determining a frequency difference between Autler-Townes peaks based on the frequency spectrum, the Autler-Townes peaks being due to Autler-Townes splitting, and
• determining an electric-field strength of the microwave field based on the frequency difference.