Simultaneous multi-band Rydberg receiver/sensor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsDavid H. Meyer, Joshua C. Hill, Kevin C. Cox, Paul D. Kunz
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Abstract
Electric field sensors based on Rydberg atoms and their unique capabilities, relative to traditional sensors, are used for detecting radio frequency (RF) signals. Simultaneous demodulation and detection of multiple RF tones spanning nearly two decades (six octaves) are provided. The continuous recovery of the phase and amplitude of each tone and the sensitivity of the system and its bandwidth capabilities for multiband detection are provided. A digital communication protocol is also provided that simultaneously receives on-off-keyed binary data from four bands spanning nearly one decade of frequency.
Claims20
An apparatus for simultaneous demodulation of radio frequency (RF) signals, the apparatus comprising:
- a chamber configured to contain a vapor comprising Rydberg atoms of at least one element;
- one or more RF synthesizers configured to generate a plurality of first input signals corresponding to a first electric field and a plurality of second input signals corresponding to a second electric field;
- a plurality of RF waveguides each coupled to the one or more RF synthesizers, wherein each RF synthesizer of the one or more RF synthesizers is coupled to a RF waveguide such that each RF waveguide is to guide its corresponding input signal at a frequency band that is distinct from frequency bands of the other RF waveguides;
- one or more lasers configured to provide one or more laser beams into the chamber, wherein the one or more laser beams are configured to provide atomic excitation of at least some of the Rydberg atoms of the at least one element in the vapor within the chamber to one or more Rydberg states, the one or more laser beams being further configured to provide one or more probe beams passing through the chamber to modulate the input signal;
- and
- one or more devices configured to detect the one or more probe beams, demodulate the input signal, and provide a simultaneously generated photo-detection output signal comprising information pertaining to the plurality of first input signals and the plurality of second input signals.
A method for performing simultaneous demodulation of radio frequency (RF) signals, the method comprising:
- generating, in a one or more RF synthesizers, a plurality of first input signals corresponding to a first electric field and a plurality of second input signals corresponding to a second electric field;
- guiding the combined input signal into a chamber that is configured to contain a vapor comprising Rydberg atoms of at least one element, wherein each RF synthesizer of the one or more RF synthesizers is coupled to a corresponding RF waveguide such that each RF waveguide is to guide its corresponding input signal at a frequency band that is distinct from frequency bands of the other RF waveguides;
- providing one or more laser beams into the chamber, wherein the one or more laser beams are configured to provide atomic excitation of at least some of the Rydberg atoms of the at least one element in the vapor within the chamber to one or more Rydberg states, the one or more laser beams being further configured to provide one or more probe beams passing through the chamber to modulate the input signal;
- detecting the one or more probe beams;
- demodulating the input signal;
- and
- providing a simultaneously generated photo-detection output signal comprising information pertaining to the plurality of first input signals and the plurality of second input signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.