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Acta Physica Sinica

Advancements in Rydberg atom-based communication receivers

Cai Yafen, KONG Xiangyan

Published Jan 1, 2026• 0 citations

Abstract

基于里德堡原子的微波电场传感器在过去的10年间迅速发展。里德堡原子电场传感器具有超高灵敏度和自校准能力，已被证明是微波通信的优秀量子接收系统。里德堡原子接收机具有以下几个优势：非金属的原子探头不会干扰待测场，可以实现非破坏通信；里德堡原子传感器将高频微波转化为光谱探测，微波调制直接映射到原子光谱，因此里德堡原子接收机无需解调电路，全光学的探测装置使得原子接收机免受电磁干扰；工作频率的可调节范围大，通过选择不同的里德堡能级，载波频率可从MHz覆盖到THz；原子接收机带宽不受天线尺寸限制，因此可突破Chu极限(Chu limit)；在工作带宽内测量灵敏度高，有望提升弱场通信能力。近年来，里德堡原子通信接收机引起研究者的强烈关注。里德堡原子通信接收机有望集成并融合到现有的无线通信系统，提高无线通信的通信距离。本文综述基于里德堡原子的通信接收机进展，详细介绍里德堡原子通信接收机的原理、优势、潜能与实验进展，并讨论了其未来发展方向与趋势。

DOI: 10.7498/aps.75.20251465

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基于里德堡原子的微波电场传感器在过去的10年间迅速发展。里德堡原子电场传感器具有超高灵敏度和自校准能力，已被证明是微波通信的优秀量子接收系统。里德堡原子接收机具有以下几个优势：非金属的原子探头不会干扰待测场，可以实现非破坏通信；里德堡原子传感器将高频微波转化为光谱探测，微波调制直接映射到原子光谱，因此里德堡原子接收机无需解调电路，全光学的探测装置使得原子接收机免受电磁干扰；工作频率的可调节范围大，通过选择不同的里德堡能级，载波频率可从MHz覆盖到THz；原子接收机带宽不受天线尺寸限制，因此可突破Chu极限(Chu limit)；在工作带宽内测量灵敏度高，有望提升弱场通信能力。近年来，里德堡原子通信接收机引起研究者的强烈关注。里德堡原子通信接收机有望集成并融合到现有的无线通信系统，提高无线通信的通信距离。本文综述基于里德堡原子的通信接收机进展，详细介绍里德堡原子通信接收机的原理、优势、潜能与实验进展，并讨论了其未来发展方向与趋势。

里德堡原子因其极大的电偶极矩和极化率，被视为微波电场量子传感中极具潜力的研究路径，在计量基准、无线通信和雷达探测等领域具有广阔的应用前景。然而，基于里德堡原子的高灵敏度微波探测优势与实际工程应用之间长期存在着显著鸿沟，尤其是远距离弱信号接收能力尚未被充分验证。本文研制了基于铯原子阶梯型三能级体系的小型化里德堡原子微波接收样机，将超外差探测技术与微波谐振腔局域场增强技术协同融合，在室外真实环境下成功实现了20 km距离的微波信号接收。实验采用3.785 GHz的微波链路，发射端与接收端分别位于相距约20 km的两个山峰。通过将信号与本振场在原子气室内混频产生中频外差拍频信号，系统在5 Hz分辨率带宽下获得了20 dB的信噪比，对应微波探测灵敏度为-134 dBm/Hz。本文工作不仅验证了量子传感器在复杂室外环境中的远距离工作能力，也为基于量子体系的远程通信、雷达探测及频谱监测等技术发展提供了重要的实验基础与参考。

There is an inherent trade-off in shortwave (SW) signal reception between achieving wide operational bandwidth and high radio sensitivity. Advances in SW radio reception hold significant potential for applications in communications, broadcasting, and over-the-horizon radar. Here, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept Rydberg SW receiver integrated with the frequency-hopping technique, achieving a highly sensitive reception compatible with large bandwidth. By shifting a carrier across the whole SW band, the atomic communication maintains a stable and high data capacity far beyond the Chu–Harrington limit. The outcomes of our work facilitate the development of Rydberg atom-based RF field sensing and communication.

Communication technologies advance toward secure communication, with frequency hopping communication (FH-C) widely used. However, traditional FH-C is limited by slow hopping speed, narrow bandwidth, and a few hopping points. Rydberg atoms offer a solution but face challenges like poor non-resonant microwave sensitivity and local oscillator synchronization limits. Here, we propose a frequency-hopping receiver based on atomic heterodyne detection that employs high orbital angular momentum (high-OAM) Rydberg states for resonant detection of rapidly hopping radio-frequency signals across multiple, widely separated frequency bands. The high-OAM Rydberg atoms ( l =3,4,5) resonantly detect 315 MHz, 1.7 GHz, and 29.74 GHz RF hopping signals (spanning 6 octaves). With heterodyne detection and a continuous excitation scheme, the system eliminates spectral establishment time, achieving 60 khops/s without transmitter-receiver synchronization, and uses frequency combs to extend hopping points to 5 MHz around resonant frequencies. These advances demonstrate the potential of Rydberg-atom–based receivers for high-speed and wide-band frequency-hopping communication.

里德堡原子对长波电信号具有高灵敏接收能力，是解决地基长波授时系统在边远区域因信号微弱导致授时性能下降的关键技术．然而，在里德堡原子的电场测量中，罗兰-C信号面临原子气室静电屏蔽效应和倍频噪声引起的保真度下降问题．本研究采用双光子方案制备里德堡态原子，结合调制转移光谱（MTS）和电磁诱导透明（EIT）频率稳定系统以及馈入强直流场的内置平行极板气室，实现对罗兰-C信号的高保真接收，单脉冲保真度为98.0%、包周差为0.08μs；接收脉冲组奇偶周期信号并展示其相位反转特性．本研究为里德堡原子接收解调长波授时信息提供关键技术支撑，有望推动高灵敏度长波授时信号监测评估体系发展．

Rydberg atomic receivers (RARs) leverage the quantum coherence of highly excited atoms to overcome the intrinsic physical limitations of conventional radio frequency receivers (RFRs), particularly in sensitivity, and bandwidth. This innovative technology represents a paradigm shift in wireless communication systems. This paper systematically explains the fundamental sensing mechanisms of RARs, contrasts their differences from RFRs in working principles and architectures. We explore their advantages in emerging wireless communication scenarios, such as integrated sensing and communications, quantum Rydberg radar, and quantum space communications. Practical challenges, such as limited instantaneous bandwidth and nonlinear distortion, are identified. To address these issues, mitigation strategies and future research directions are also outlined, supporting the advancement of RAR-aided wireless systems.