Using vapor cell sensors to perform over-the-air testing of cellular base stations

A method of performing over-the-air testing of a cellular base station, the method comprising:

• tuning a vapor cell sensor to a carrier frequency of radio frequency (RF) radiation emitted from the cellular base station, the vapor cell sensor comprising a vapor having Rydberg states;
• by operation of the vapor cell sensor tuned to the carrier frequency, generating a first set of optical signals based on an interaction between the vapor and a synchronization signal transmitted from the cellular base station;
• tuning the vapor cell sensor to a harmonic of the carrier frequency;
• by operation of the vapor cell sensor tuned to the harmonic of the carrier frequency, generating a second set of optical signals based on an interaction between the vapor and the RF radiation emitted from the cellular base station;
• and
• by operation of a control system communicably coupled to the vapor cell sensor:
• converting the first and second sets of optical signals to digital data;
• and
• processing the digital data to detect a condition of the cellular base station.