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

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

• a vapor cell sensor comprising a vapor having Rydberg states;
• and
• a control system communicably coupled to the vapor cell sensor, the control system being configured to perform operations comprising:
• tuning the vapor cell sensor to a carrier frequency of radio frequency (RF) radiation emitted from the cellular base station;
• receiving a first set of optical signals generated by the vapor cell sensor, the first set of optical signals being generated 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;
• receiving a second set of optical signals generated by the vapor cell based on an interaction between the vapor and the RF radiation emitted from the cellular base station;
• 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.