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arXiv:2506.20862 · Applied Physics Letters

An imaging radar using a Rydberg atom receiver

William J. Watterson, Nikunjkumar Prajapati, Rodrigo Castillo-Garza, Samuel Berweger, Noah Schlossberger, Alexandra B. Artusio‐Glimpse, Christopher L. Holloway, Matthew T. Simons

Published Oct 20, 2025• 5 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Rydberg atoms in a gas form are highly sensitive electric field probes capable of detecting and measuring the amplitude, phase, and polarization of broadband time-varying signals. Here, we present the performance of a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar using a Rydberg atom-based subwavelength sensor as a receiver. This sensor down-converts the radar echoes, eliminates key FMCW electrical components, and performs two-dimensional target localization. To demonstrate its capabilities, we present an radio frequency image of a scene containing targets in an anechoic room with radar cross sections down to 0 dBsm at distances up to 5 m and with a range resolution of 4.7 cm.

DOI
10.1063/5.0287757

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Rydberg atoms in a gas form are highly sensitive electric field probes capable of detecting and measuring the amplitude, phase, and polarization of broadband time-varying signals. Here, we present the performance of a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar using a Rydberg atom-based subwavelength sensor as a receiver. This sensor down-converts the radar echoes, eliminates key FMCW electrical components, and performs two-dimensional target localization. To demonstrate its capabilities, we present an radio frequency image of a scene containing targets in an anechoic room with radar cross sections down to 0 dBsm at distances up to 5 m and with a range resolution of 4.7 cm.
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We present on the recent development of an atomic antenna probe and front-end based on Rydberg atoms for applications in radio-frequency (RF) imaging and synthetic apertures. Fundamental atom-RF responses and RF amplitude and phase determination methods for Rydberg atom probes are described. We demonstrate electric field imaging in the near-field of a 2.5 GHz Yagi-Uda antenna device under test (DUT) using a portable Rydberg atom probe and integrated front-end, the Rydberg Field Probe (RFP). A wide-area RF electric field map is generated by positioning of the RFP at discrete spatial measurement locations in the near field of the DUT, from which a composite image of the two-dimensional antenna pattern is realized at a spatial resolution of λ/2\lambda /2λ/2 and field uncertainties within 5.5%. Finally, we demonstrate RF phase imaging of a 100 GHz field using a Rydberg EIT optical fluorescence imager and RF self-homodyning, towards RF phase-sensing and imaging at millimeter-wave frequencies.
Deep subwavelength radio-frequency (RF) imaging with atomic Rydberg sensors has overcome fundamental limitations of traditional antennas and enabled ultra-wideband detection of omni-directional time varying fields all in a compact form factor. However, in most applications, Rydberg sensors require the use of a secondary strong RF reference field to serve as a phase reference. Here, we demonstrate a new type of Rydberg sensor for angle-of-arrival (AoA) sensing, which utilizes subwavelength imaging of standing wave fields. By placing a metallic plate within the Rydberg cell, we can determine the AoA independent of the strength of incoming RF field and without requiring a secondary strong RF phase reference field. We perform precision AoA measurements with a robotic antenna positioning system for 4.2, 5.0, and 5.7 GHz signals and demonstrate a 1.7° polar angular resolution from 0° to 60° AoA and 4.1° over all possible angles.