Embedding a Rydberg Atom-Based Sensor Into an Antenna for Phase and Amplitude Detection of Radio-Frequency Fields and Modulated Signals

Abstract

We demonstrate a Rydberg atom-based sensor embedded in a parallel-plate waveguide (PPWG) for amplitude and phase detection of a radio-frequency (RF) electric field. This embedded atomic sensor is also capable of receiving modulated communications signals. In this configuration, the PPWG antenna serves two functions. First, the PPWG antenna acts as a source for a local oscillator (LO) field. The LO is required to use an atomic vapor cell (a glass cell containing a Rydberg atom vapor) as a Rydberg atom-based mixer, which detects the amplitude and phase of a second RF field incident from some remote location. The second function of the PPWG antenna is to capture the RF field arriving from a remote location and concentrate it at the location of the atomic vapor cell for detection. To demonstrate this, we show several examples of phase and amplitude measurements of an RF field with the embedded Rydberg-atom sensor. We also demonstrate the discrimination of the polarization of an RF field and the ability to receive phase-modulated carrier communications signals with this integrated atomic sensor. Embedding the atomic sensor in an antenna allows for the full characterization of a radio frequency field, in that the magnitude, phase, and polarization of an RF field can be measured with one compact integrated quantum-based sensor. Furthermore, the embedded sensor head allows one to easily vary the LO in order to maximize the ability to measure phase and amplitude of the field or modulated signal.

Rydberg Atom Electric Field Sensors for Communications and Sensing

“…6 alongside some example electronic filters. The atoms provide a naturally narrowband response of approximately ⌫ = 10 MHz [23,24]. The Q-factor for traditional frontend electronic filters shown in Fig.…”

“…The Q-factor of atomic electric field sensors and receiver frontend filters as a function of carrier frequency. The case of atomic electric field sensors, where the instantaneous bandwidth is approximately 10 MHz[23,24], is shown in red points. The other lines show Q-factors for the standard front-end filters defined in the legend.…”

Sensitivity improvement of Rydberg atom-based microwave sensing via electromagnetically induced transparency

“…It has been widely investigated thoroughly both theoretically and experimentally throughout the last decades [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. This type of sensors can replace the front-end components and electronics in a conventional antenna/receiver system [14,15], since they have potential advantages over conventional systems. This Rydberg-atom based quantum sensor owns unique properties such as self-calibration and fine spatial resolution in both the far-field and near-field [14,[16][17][18].…”

“…When we apply amplitude modulation (AM) to the RF carrier, probe transmission also carries a relating modulation signal and can be directly measured using a fast photo-diode detector. Owing to a potential high sensitivity, the quantum receiver can be used for very weak signal communication, which can also greatly reduce the cost of a transceiver system [15,30].…”

Enhancement of electromagnetically induced transparency based Rydberg-atom electrometry through population repumping

“…While the large repump power is not necessary, the strong saturation helps avoid repump laser intensity fluctuations from being transferred to the probe. The most sensitive RF field detection techniques rely on the concept of the atom-based field mixer 27,28,31,32 . An RF field (say a local oscillator-LO) causes AT splitting, shown by black trace in Fig.…”