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Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

Angle-of-Arrival of a Radio-Frequency Field from Sub-wavelength Rydberg Atom-based Phase Measurements

Amy K. Robinson, Nikunjkumar Prajapati, Damir Senić, Matthew T. Simons, Joshua A. Gordon, Christopher L. Holloway

Published Jan 1, 2021• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Rydberg atoms in a vapor cell are used to measure the angle-of-arrival (AoA) of an incident radio-frequency plane wave through sub-wavelength phase measurements using a heterodyne technique.
DOI
10.1364/cleo_si.2021.sw2i.3

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The determination of the angle of arrival (AoA) of Ku-band microwave signals is of great significance in satellite communications, spectrum monitoring, and national defense security, which has created an urgent demand for high-precision and interference-resistant passive detection techniques. In this study, we propose a Rydberg-atom-based passive measurement method for estimating the AoA of Ku-band incident signals. Based on well-established quantum optical techniques, the proposed method converts the EIT-AT splitting intervals induced by waves or signals incident from different directions in Rydberg atoms within a single vapor cell into the electric-field intensity at the atomic sensor. An electric-field-intensity-angle response model is then established for AoA estimation of a 13.6 GHz wave or signal. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method can determine the incident direction within a certain angular range, with an estimation error of less than 3.8°. Without the need for self-calibration and free from interference caused by actively emitted probing electromagnetic waves or reference electric fields, the proposed approach enables AoA determination of incident waves or signals using a single vapor cell with a length of 5 cm.

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In this work, we demonstrate the use of a Rydberg atom-based sensor for determining the angle of arrival of an incident radio frequency (RF) wave or signal. The technique uses electromagnetically induced transparency in Rydberg atomic vapor in conjunction with a heterodyne Rydberg atom-based mixer. The Rydberg atom mixer measures the phase of the incident RF wave at two different locations inside an atomic vapor cell. The phase difference at these two locations is related to the direction of arrival of the incident RF wave. To demonstrate this approach, we measure phase differences of an incident 19.18 GHz wave at two locations inside a vapor cell filled with cesium atoms for various incident angles. Comparisons of these measurements with both the full-wave simulation and the plane wave theoretical model show that these atom-based sub-wavelength phase measurements can be used to determine the angle of arrival of an RF field.
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.
The determination of the angle of arrival (AoA) of Ku-band microwave signals is of great significance in satellite communications, spectrum monitoring, and national defense security, which has created an urgent demand for high-precision and interference-resistant passive detection techniques. In this study, we propose a Rydberg-atom-based passive measurement method for estimating the AoA of Ku-band incident signals. Based on well-established quantum optical techniques, the proposed method converts the EIT-AT splitting intervals induced by waves or signals incident from different directions in Rydberg atoms within a single vapor cell into the electric-field intensity at the atomic sensor. An electric-field-intensity-angle response model is then established for AoA estimation of a 13.6 GHz wave or signal. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method can determine the incident direction within a certain angular range, with an estimation error of less than 3.8°. Without the need for self-calibration and free from interference caused by actively emitted probing electromagnetic waves or reference electric fields, the proposed approach enables AoA determination of incident waves or signals using a single vapor cell with a length of 5 cm.