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Detection of Loran C signals based on the Rydberg Cs atomic system

Chao Li, Xinhua Lu, Jing Fan, Guo Ma, Bao Wang

Published Feb 3, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We propose a highly sensitive detection method for Loran-C signals based on a Rydberg cesium atomic system. By exploiting the strong electric-field response of Rydberg atoms and the Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) effect, we theoretically achieve non-invasive, high-precision detection of low-frequency electromagnetic signals from the Loran-C navigation system. The core of this work focuses on real-time alternating electric-field signal simulation using Rydberg atoms. We systematically investigate the AC-Stark effect on the ground state 6S 1/2 , intermediate state 6P 3/2 , and Rydberg state 52D 5/2 , and find that the energy shift of the Rydberg state is significantly larger than those of the ground and intermediate states. Building on this, we further examine the influence of the Rabi frequencies of the coupling and probe lasers on the signal strength, demonstrating that an optimal signal intensity can be obtained by appropriately setting these Rabi frequencies. Our results confirm that the Rydberg-atom-based real-time AC-field signal simulation technology offers high sensitivity, excellent real-time performance, and high precision. This study provides both theoretical support and practical insight for the application of Rydberg atoms in real-time alternating electric-field signal simulation, laying a foundation for technological advances and practical implementations in related fields.

DOI
10.1364/oe.585694

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We propose a highly sensitive detection method for Loran-C signals based on a Rydberg cesium atomic system. By exploiting the strong electric-field response of Rydberg atoms and the Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) effect, we theoretically achieve non-invasive, high-precision detection of low-frequency electromagnetic signals from the Loran-C navigation system. The core of this work focuses on real-time alternating electric-field signal simulation using Rydberg atoms. We systematically investigate the AC-Stark effect on the ground state 6S 1/2 , intermediate state 6P 3/2 , and Rydberg state 52D 5/2 , and find that the energy shift of the Rydberg state is significantly larger than those of the ground and intermediate states. Building on this, we further examine the influence of the Rabi frequencies of the coupling and probe lasers on the signal strength, demonstrating that an optimal signal intensity can be obtained by appropriately setting these Rabi frequencies. Our results confirm that the Rydberg-atom-based real-time AC-field signal simulation technology offers high sensitivity, excellent real-time performance, and high precision. This study provides both theoretical support and practical insight for the application of Rydberg atoms in real-time alternating electric-field signal simulation, laying a foundation for technological advances and practical implementations in related fields.
The large electric dipole moment of the Rydberg atom allows for strong coupling with weak electric fields, and is widely used in electric field measurements because of its reproducibility, precision and stability. The combination of Rydberg atoms and electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) technology has been used for detecting and characterizing radio-frequency (RF) electric fields. In this work, by selecting probe light (852 nm), dressed light (1470 nm), and coupled light (780 nm), the Rydberg state (49P3/2) of Cs atom is prepared by using a three-photon excitation scheme through using all-infrared light excitation of Rydberg atoms. We experimentally observe the EIT spectra of the Rydberg states decorated by radio-frequency electric fields, which optically detects Rydberg atoms. The effect of the amplitude and frequency of the RF electric field on the spectrum is explored in light of changes in the EIT spectrum. The results show that in the region of weak electric field, only the ac Stark energy shift and spectral broadening occur. As the electric field is further enhanced, the sideband phenomenon occurs in both the primary peak and secondary peak of the EIT. In the region of strong field, the Rydberg energy level produces a series of Floquet states with higher-order terms, as well as state shifting and mixing, resulting in asymmetry in the spectra of the EIT sideband peaks. The effect of frequency on the shielding effect of the Cs vapor cell is further discussed based on the shift of the main peak of the EIT. The demodulation of the electric field in a range of 50 Hz–1 kHz with a fidelity of 95% is achieved by modulating the low-frequency electric field to the RF electric field. The results can provide valuable references for spectral detection and traceable measurements of low-frequency electric fields.
Abstract Recently, the rapid progress of quantum sensing research reveals that Rydberg atoms have great potential in becoming high-precision centimeter-scale antennas for low-frequency fields. In order to facilitate efficient and reliable detection of low-frequency fields via Rydberg atoms, we designed and implemented a heterodyne method based on the linear response to external signals under the condition of Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). Instead of relying on observing changes in the absorption of light by Rydberg atoms, our method focuses on the phase modulation effect on the probe laser induced by low-frequency fields via the Rydberg EIT mechanism and utilizes a special demodulation process to accurately retrieve signals including both amplitude and phase. The general principles of our method apply to both electric and magnetic fields, and it is even possible to realize a combination of both functionalities in the same apparatus. In particular, we experimentally demonstrate the full cycle of operations with respect to both cases. In measuring low-frequency electric fields, we discover that the Rydberg dipole–dipole interaction among atoms induces a linear superposition of Rydberg states with different angular momentum, generating a first-order response corresponding to the signature of the linear Stark effect. As Rydberg atoms have excellent coupling strengths with electric fields, our results indicate that our method can hopefully achieve high-precision performance for practical tasks in the future.
Recently, the rapid progress of quantum sensing research reveals that the Rydberg atoms have great potentials in becoming high-precision centimeter-scale antenna of low-frequency fields. In order to facilitate efficient and reliable detection of low-frequency fields via Rydberg atoms, we design, implement and analyze a special but low-cost and scalable method based on heterodyning processes under the condition of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) embedded in typical two-photon ground-Rydberg transition. Instead of relying on observing changes in absorption of light by Rydberg atoms, our method focuses on the phase modulation effect on the probe laser induced by the low-frequency fields via the Rydberg EIT mechanism and utilizes a demodulation process to accurately retrieve the signal. The general principles of our method apply to both electric and magnetic fields and it is even possible to realize the combination of both functionalities in the same apparatus. In particular, we experimentally demonstrate the full cycle of operations with respect to both cases. In the measurement of low-frequency electric fields, we discover that the Rydberg dipole-dipole interaction among atoms induce linear superposition of Rydberg states with different angular momentum that generates a first-order response corresponding to the signature of linear Stark effect. As the Rydberg atoms have excellent coupling strengths with electric fields, our results indicate that our method can hopefully reach high-precision performance for practical tasks in the future.
Rydberg atoms have emerged as a versatile and efficient platform for high-sensitivity quantum sensing of free-space electric fields, with remarkable progress in detecting low-frequency signals. To date, low-frequency Rydberg receivers have relied on a constant bias field, typically realized via intra-cell electrodes or Rydberg plasmas generated by photoelectric effects or inter-atomic interactions. While these approaches improve sensitivity, they suffer from inherent challenges in calibration, long-term stability, and robustness, hindering practical deployment. Here, we propose, design, and experimentally demonstrate a quantum sensing scheme for low-frequency electric signals using modulated auxiliary fields in Rydberg atoms. Unlike conventional methods that employ external DC electric fields that are often fully shielded by adsorbed atom layers on the cell walls, we introduce an AC-field modulation strategy. The incoming low-frequency signal mixes with the auxiliary field, and together they induce Stark shifts of the Rydberg level. These shifts are mapped onto the probe laser via electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), in a manner analogous to heterodyne detection. We demonstrate a sensitivity of 7.5±2.6 μV/(cm⋅Hz1/2)7.5 \pm 2.6~\mathrm{μV/(cm\cdot Hz^{1/2})}7.5±2.6 μV/(cm⋅Hz1/2) at 5 kHz and a minimal detectable field of 0.26±0.04 μV/cm0.26 \pm 0.04~\mathrm{μV/cm}0.26±0.04 μV/cm with an integration time of 1000 s. Furthermore, we extend this approach to systematically analyze the performance of generalized auxiliary fields containing multiple frequency components. By virtue of modulated auxiliary field and quantum frequency mixing, our results establish a robust and systematic framework for quantum sensing of low-frequency electric fields with Rydberg atoms, offering improved sensitivity, stability, and immunity to environmental drifts.
Rydberg-assisted atomic electrometry with thermal vapors offers a promising approach for detecting external electric fields. However, this technique presents significant challenges for measuring low frequencies due to the effects of metal-alkali atoms adsorbed on the interior surface of the vacuum chamber. In this work, we apply high-contrast Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) spectroscopy to systematically investigate these effects, including the influence of laser power and electric field strength. We demonstrate the ability to measure electric field frequencies ranging from 10 Hz to 1 MHz. Additionally, this study identifies a fundamental limit for data capacity in such measurements. Furthermore, we propose a method for precise Stark shift measurements by locking the coupling laser to Zeeman-split Rydberg EIT peaks. Using the Zeeman shift in a reference cell as a stable frequency reference, we are able to track Stark-induced shifts in a science cell and confirm excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. These results provide valuable insights for future precision measurement techniques and field sensing applications based on Rydberg atom systems.
We demonstrate a continuously tunable electric field measurement based on the far off-resonant AC stark effect in a Rydberg atomic vapor cell. In this configuration, a strong far off-resonant field, denoted as a local oscillator (LO) field, acts as a gain to shift the Rydberg level to a high sensitivity region. An incident weak signal field with a few hundreds of kHz difference from the LO field is mixed with the LO field in the Rydberg system to generate an intermediate frequency signal, which is read out by Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency (Rydberg-EIT) spectroscopy. Not like resonant EIT-Autler–Townes spectra, we realize the electric field measurement of the signal frequency from 2 to 5 GHz using a single Rydberg state. The detectable field strength is down to 2.25 μV/cm with sensitivity of the electrometry 712 nV cm−1 Hz−1/2, and a linear dynamic range is over 65 dB. The detectable field strength is comparable with a resonant microwave-dressed Rydberg heterodyne receiver using the same system, which is 0.96 μV/cm with sensitivity of 304 nV cm–1 Hz−1/2. We also show the system has an inherent polarization selectivity feature. Our method can provide high sensitivity of electric field measurement and be extended to arbitrary frequency measurements.