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arXiv:2408.10989 · Physical Review A

Observation of asymmetric sideband generation in strongly driven Rydberg atoms

Dangka Shylla, Nikunjkumar Prajapati, Andrew P. Rotunno, Noah Schlossberger, Dixith Manchaiah, William J. Watterson, Alexandra B. Artusio‐Glimpse, Samuel Berweger, Matthew T. Simons, Christopher L. Holloway

Published Mar 25, 2025• 12 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Improving the bandwidth of Rydberg-atom-based receivers is an ongoing challenge owing to the long-lived Rydberg state lifetimes that limit the refresh rate of ground-state atoms. In particular, the local-oscillator-based Rydberg mixer approach allows for bandwidths into the few-megahertz range. Here we use heterodyne detection of the Rydberg-atom receiver probe laser to separate the negative and positive sidebands that originate from distinct six-wave-mixing processes, in order to investigate their individual bandwidths. We experimentally confirm the prediction that the negative sideband exhibits a higher bandwidth than the positive sideband. We further explore the effect of coupling and probe laser Rabi frequency on the bandwidth, which we find to be in close agreement with our model. We achieve maximum experimental (and theoretical) bandwidths of $10.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4$ (11.6) and $3.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2$ (5.4) MHz for the negative and positive sidebands, respectively, from the $\ensuremath{-}3$ dB roll-off point for optimized field parameters. This work provides insight into the bandwidth-limiting features of Rydberg-atom receivers and points the way towards further optimization of their response.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.111.033115

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Wideband Quantum Transduction for Rydberg Atomic Receivers Using Six-Wave Mixing

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quant-pharXiv:2602.13955•Feb 17, 2026•0 citations
Improving the bandwidth of Rydberg-atom-based receivers is an ongoing challenge owing to the long-lived Rydberg state lifetimes that limit the refresh rate of ground-state atoms. In particular, the local-oscillator-based Rydberg mixer approach allows for bandwidths into the few-megahertz range. Here we use heterodyne detection of the Rydberg-atom receiver probe laser to separate the negative and positive sidebands that originate from distinct six-wave-mixing processes, in order to investigate their individual bandwidths. We experimentally confirm the prediction that the negative sideband exhibits a higher bandwidth than the positive sideband. We further explore the effect of coupling and probe laser Rabi frequency on the bandwidth, which we find to be in close agreement with our model. We achieve maximum experimental (and theoretical) bandwidths of 10.5\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.410.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.410.5\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.4 (11.6) and 3.4\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.23.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.23.4\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.2 (5.4) MHz for the negative and positive sidebands, respectively, from the \ensuremath−3\ensuremath{-}3\ensuremath−3 dB roll-off point for optimized field parameters. This work provides insight into the bandwidth-limiting features of Rydberg-atom receivers and points the way towards further optimization of their response.
Improving the bandwidth of Rydberg atom-based receivers is an ongoing challenge because of the long-lived Rydberg state lifetimes that limit the refresh rate of ground-state atoms. In particular, the local oscillator (LO)-based Rydberg mixer approach allows for bandwidths in a few MHz ranges. Here, we use the laser parameters of the Rydberg atomic receiver superheterodyne detection technology to study their respective bandwidths. We have confirmed through experiments that laser power and waist diameter can affect the Rabi frequency and thus alter the instantaneous bandwidth. The experimental results indicate that the instantaneous bandwidth is directly proportional to the Rabi frequency of the coupled light and inversely proportional to the Rabi frequency of the probe light. Optimal parameters for quantum sensing applications are identified through powerdependent Rabi oscillation measurements.
Rydberg atomic receivers hold extremely high sensitivity to electric fields, yet their effective 3-dB baseband bandwidth under conventional electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) is typically constrained to tens to a few hundreds of kilohertz, which hinders wideband wireless applications. To relax this bottleneck, we investigate a six-wave mixing (SWM)-based Rydberg atomic receiver as a wideband radio frequency (RF)-to-optical quantum transducer. Specifically, we develop an explicit baseband input-output model that bridges the RF-induced atomic coherence to the detected optical readout. Based on the exact detected SWM response, we develop a reduced-order closed-form two-pole low-pass approximation under the near-resonant weak-signal of interest, which provides an analytical insight into how the 3-dB bandwidth is manipulated by the dressed higher-level atomic dynamics and optical/RF parameters. The validity range of this approximation is then quantified to clarify the operating conditions under which this reduced-order model accurately represents the exact SWM response. We further characterize the linear dynamic range by employing the 1-dB compression point (P1dB) and the input-referred third-order intercept point (IIP3), unveiling a communication-compatible characterization of the bandwidth-sensitivity-linearity trade-off. Extensive simulation results demonstrate that SWM can achieve a 3-dB bandwidth of approximately 10 MHz while maintaining favorable linearity and sensitivity under the strict low-pass condition. The comparison with the EIT regime indicates that the two schemes should be treated as complementary rather than universally ordered. From an engineering perspective, the preferred SWM operating region is therefore not the one with the largest bandwidth, but the one that simultaneously provides a large bandwidth, acceptable sensitivity, favorable linearity, and low-pass regularity.
In the field of Instrumentation & Measurement (I&M), overcoming the inherent trade-off between instantaneous bandwidth and sensitivity in Rydberg atom-based microwave electrometry remains a significant challenge. We propose a novel method of co-optimizing the Rabi frequencies of dual microwave fields (LO and SIG). This enables simultaneous enhancement of instantaneous bandwidth and sensitivity in a Rydberg-based receiver. In experimental settings, the significant power disparity between heterodyne fields typically necessitates an increase in the power of the local oscillator (LO) field. Conventional measurement techniques under such high power differentials can induce high-order harmonics—a phenomenon associated with the Floquet effect—resulting in deviations from resonant behavior and an increase in noise. This, in turn, reduces the atomic population distribution and constrains the system bandwidth. Leveraging the sensitivity enhancement mechanisms provided by electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and Autler–Townes (AT) splitting, we experimentally characterized the relationship between the Rabi frequencies of the LO and the target signal (SIG) microwave fields. Our approach enables the optimization and fine-tuning of parameters of the auxiliary microwave field to mitigate performance degradation caused by these nonlinear effects, thereby extending the frequency response of the system beyond the limitations of conventional resonance-based methods. As a result, our team has achieved an instantaneous bandwidth of 7.1 MHz coupled with a sensitivity of 51nV cm−1Hz−1/2under a -41 dBm power difference condition. This work establishes a new instrumentation framework for high-dynamic-range sensing, directly addressing I&M limitations in nonlinear artifact suppression.
Abstract We investigate the response bandwidth of a superheterodyne Rydberg receiver at a room-temperature vapor cell, and present an architecture of atomic array to increase the response bandwidth. Two microwave fields, denoted as a local oscillator (LO) ELO and a signal field ESig, couple two Rydberg states transition of |52D5/2⟩ → |53P3/2⟩. In the presence of the LO field, the frequency difference between two fields can be read out as an intermediate frequency (IF) signal using Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) spectroscopy. The bandwidth of the Rydberg receiver is obtained by measuring the output power of IF signal versus the frequency difference between two fields. The bandwidth dependence on the Rabi frequency of excitation lasers is presented, which shows the bandwidth decrease with the Rabi frequency of probe laser, while it is quadratic dependence on the Rabi frequency of coupling laser. Meanwhile, we investigate the effect of probe laser waist on the bandwidth, showing that the bandwidth is inversely proportional to the laser waist. We achieve a maximum response bandwidth of the receiver about 6.8~MHz. Finally, we design an architecture of atomic array for increasing the response and keeping the sensitivity, simultaneously. Our work has the potential to extend the applications of Rydberg atoms in communications.
Rydberg sensors offer a unique approach to radio-frequency (rf) detection, leveraging the high sensitivity and quantum properties of highly excited atomic states to achieve performance levels beyond classical technologies. Nonlinear responses and distortion behavior in Rydberg atom receivers are critical to evaluating and establishing performance metrics and capabilities such as spur-free dynamic range and tolerance to unwanted interfering signals. We report here on the measurement and characterization of nonlinear behavior and spurious response of a Rydberg atomic heterodyne receiver. Single-tone and two-tone testing procedures are developed and implemented for measurement of harmonic and intermodulation distortion in Rydberg atomic receivers based on multiphoton Rydberg spectroscopy and radio-frequency heterodyne signal detection and demodulation in an atomic vapor. For a predetermined set of atomic receiver parameters and rf carrier wave in the super high frequency band near-resonant to a cesium Rydberg transition, we measure and characterize atomic receiver selectivity, bandwidth, roll-off, compression point (P1dB), second-order (IP2) and third-order (IP3) intercepts, and spur-free dynamic range. Receiver intermodulation distortion is characterized for the case of an interfering signal wave applied at two frequency offsets relative to the near-resonant reference local oscillator, Δ F / F = 10 − 4 at 6 dB and 10 − 6 at 22 dB single-tone bandwidths, respectively. We observe that under suitable operating conditions the atomic receiver can exhibit a suppression of harmonic and intermodulation distortion relative to that of classical receiver mixer amplifiers.
This paper investigates a six-wave mixing (SWM)-based Rydberg atomic receiver as a wideband radio frequency (RF)-to-optical quantum transducer. Specifically, we develop an explicit baseband input-output model that bridges the RF-induced atomic coherence to the detected optical readout. Based on the exact detected SWM response, we develop a reduced-order closed-form two-pole low-pass approximation under the near-resonant weak-signal of interest, which provides an analytical insight into how the 3-dB bandwidth is manipulated by the dressed higher-level atomic dynamics and optical/RF parameters. The validity range of this approximation is then quantified to clarify the operating conditions under which this reduced-order model accurately represents the exact SWM response. We further characterize the linear dynamic range by employing the 1-dB compression point (P1dB) and the input-referred third-order intercept point (IIP3), unveiling a communication-compatible characterization of the bandwidth-sensitivity-linearity trade-off. Extensive simulation results demonstrate that SWM can achieve a 3-dB bandwidth of approximately 10 MHz while maintaining favorable linearity and sensitivity under the strict low-pass condition. The comparison with the EIT regime indicates that the two schemes should be treated as complementary rather than universally ordered. From an engineering perspective, the preferred SWM operating region is therefore not the one with the largest bandwidth, but the one that simultaneously provides a large bandwidth, acceptable sensitivity, favorable linearity, and low-pass regularity.