Quantum electromagnetic field sensor

A sensor, comprising:

• a vapor cell including a vapor of alkali atoms;
• a system configured to direct electromagnetic (EM) radiation of one or more frequencies into the vapor cell and incident on the vapor of alkali atoms, wherein the EM radiation of one or more frequencies is configured to transition the alkali atoms from a first quantum state to a Rydberg state via at least two intermediary quantum states, wherein each of the at least two intermediary quantum states has an energy state between the first quantum state and the Rydberg state, wherein the alkali atoms in the Rydberg state comprise an orbital angular momentum quantum number that is at least a number of quanta of the one or more frequencies;
• and
• a detector configured to detect a response of the alkali atoms to incident EM radiation after the alkali atoms are prepared in transitioned to the Rydberg state.

A sensor, comprising:

• a vapor cell including a vapor of alkali atoms;
• a first set of optical elements configured to substantially collimate and direct a first electromagnetic (EM) radiation comprising visible light to be incident on at least a portion the alkali atoms of the vapor cell;
• a second set of optical elements configured to substantially collimate and direct a second EM radiation comprising visible or near infrared (NIR) light to be incident on at least a portion the alkali atoms of the vapor cell;
• a third set of optical elements configured to substantially collimate and direct a third EM radiation comprising visible light, NIR light, or EM radiation comprising a frequency that is at least 1 gigahertz (GHz) and less than 1 terahertz (THz) to be incident on at least a portion the alkali atoms of the vapor cell;
• a fourth set of optical elements configured to substantially collimate and direct a fourth EM radiation comprising visible light, NIR light, or EM radiation comprising a frequency that is at least 10 megahertz (MHz) and less than 100 GHz to be incident on at least a portion the alkali atoms of the vapor cell;
• and
• a detector configured to detect a response of the alkali atoms to incident EM radiation that is different from the first, second, third, and fourth EM radiations after the alkali atoms are prepared in the Rydberg state,
• wherein the first, second, third, and fourth EM radiations are configured to prepare at least a portion of the alkali atoms from a first quantum state to a Rydberg state, wherein the alkali atoms prepared in the Rydberg state comprise an orbital angular momentum quantum number is at least 3 (l≥3) and a principal quantum number less than 200 (n≤200).