Abstract: A radio-frequency receiver achieves high sensitivity by pumping atoms to high-azimuthal (?3) Rydberg states. A vapor cell contains quantum particles (e.g., cesium atoms). A laser system provides probe, dressing, and coupling beams to pump the quantum particles to a first Rydberg state having a high-azimuthal quantum number ?3. A local oscillator drives an electric field in the vapor cell at a local oscillator frequency, which is imposed on a distribution of quantum particles between the first Rydberg state and a second Rydberg state. An incident RF signal field interferes with the local oscillator field, imposing an oscillation in the distribution at a beat or difference frequency and, consequently, on the intensity of the probe beam. The beat frequency component of the intensity of the probe beam is detected, and the detection signal is demodulated to extract information originally in the RF signal.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field detector including a vapor cell, an excitation system, and a frequency tuner is described. The vapor cell has a plurality of quantum particles therein. The excitation system excites the quantum particles to a first Rydberg state. The first Rydberg state has a transition to a second Rydberg state at a first frequency. The frequency tuner generates a tunable field in a portion of the vapor cell. The tunable field shifts the first Rydberg state and/or the second Rydberg state such that the transition to the second Rydberg state is at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The detection frequency range for the electromagnetic field detector is continuous and includes the first frequency and the second frequency.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field detector including a vapor cell, an excitation system, and a frequency tuner is described. The vapor cell has a plurality of quantum particles therein. The excitation system excites the quantum particles to a first Rydberg state. The first Rydberg state has a transition to a second Rydberg state at a first frequency. The frequency tuner generates a tunable field in a portion of the vapor cell. The tunable field shifts the first Rydberg state and/or the second Rydberg state such that the transition to the second Rydberg state is at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The detection frequency range for the electromagnetic field detector is continuous and includes the first frequency and the second frequency.

Abstract: A radio-frequency receiver achieves high sensitivity by pumping atoms to high-azimuthal (?3) Rydberg states. A vapor cell contains quantum particles (e.g., cesium atoms). A laser system provides probe, dressing, and coupling beams to pump the quantum particles to a first Rydberg state having a high-azimuthal quantum number ?3. A local oscillator drives an electric field in the vapor cell at a local oscillator frequency, which is imposed on a distribution of quantum particles between the first Rydberg state and a second Rydberg state. An incident RF signal field interferes with the local oscillator field, imposing an oscillation in the distribution at a beat or difference frequency and, consequently, on the intensity of the probe beam. The beat frequency component of the intensity of the probe beam is detected, and the detection signal is demodulated to extract information originally in the RF signal.

Abstract: A probe laser beam causes molecules to transition from a ground state to an excited state. A control laser beam causes molecules in the excited state to transition to a laser-induced Rydberg state. Microwave lenses convert a microwave wavefront into respective microwave beams. The microwave beams are counter-propagated through molecules so as to create a microwave interference pattern of alternating maxima and minima. The microwave interference pattern is imposed on the probe beam as a probe transmission pattern. The propagation direction of the microwave wavefront can be determined from the translational position of the probe transmission pattern; the intensity of the microwave wavefront can be determined by the intensity difference between the minima and maxima of the probe transmission pattern.

Abstract: A probe laser beam causes molecules to transition from a ground state to an excited state. A control laser beam causes molecules in the excited state to transition to a laser-induced Rydberg state. Microwave lenses convert a microwave wavefront into respective microwave beams. The microwave beams are counter-propagated through molecules so as to create a microwave interference pattern of alternating maxima and minima. The microwave interference pattern is imposed on the probe beam as a probe transmission pattern. The propagation direction of the microwave wavefront can be determined from the translational position of the probe transmission pattern; the intensity of the microwave wavefront can be determined by the intensity difference between the minima and maxima of the probe transmission pattern.

Abstract: A radio-frequency receiver achieves high sensitivity by pumping atoms to high-azimuthal (?3) Rydberg states. A vapor cell contains quantum particles (e.g., cesium atoms). A laser system provides probe, dressing, and coupling beams to pump the quantum particles to a first Rydberg state having a high-azimuthal quantum number ?3. A local oscillator drives an electric field in the vapor cell at a local oscillator frequency, which is imposed on a distribution of quantum particles between the first Rydberg state and a second Rydberg state. An incident RF signal field interferes with the local oscillator field, imposing an oscillation in the distribution at a beat or difference frequency and, consequently, on the intensity of the probe beam. The beat frequency component of the intensity of the probe beam is detected, and the detection signal is demodulated to extract information originally in the RF signal.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field detector including a vapor cell, an excitation system, and a frequency tuner is described. The vapor cell has a plurality of quantum particles therein. The excitation system excites the quantum particles to a first Rydberg state. The first Rydberg state has a transition to a second Rydberg state at a first frequency. The frequency tuner generates a tunable field in a portion of the vapor cell. The tunable field shifts the first Rydberg state and/or the second Rydberg state such that the transition to the second Rydberg state is at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The detection frequency range for the electromagnetic field detector is continuous and includes the first frequency and the second frequency.

Abstract: A probe laser beam causes molecules to transition from a ground state to an excited state. A control laser beam causes molecules in the excited state to transition to a laser-induced Rydberg state. Microwave lenses convert a microwave wavefront into respective microwave beams. The microwave beams are counter-propagated through molecules so as to create a microwave interference pattern of alternating maxima and minima. The microwave interference pattern is imposed on the probe beam as a probe transmission pattern. The propagation direction of the microwave wavefront can be determined from the translational position of the probe transmission pattern; the intensity of the microwave wavefront can be determined by the intensity difference between the minima and maxima of the probe transmission pattern.