New Potentials For Comms, Spectrum Awareness and Electronic Warfare by Patricia Riippa, U.S. Army Research Laboratory
February 16, 2021
A new quantum sensor can analyze the full spectrum of radio
frequency and real-world signals ... unleashing new potentials for
soldier communications, spectrum awareness and electronic warfare.
Army researchers built the quantum sensor, which can sample the
radio-frequency spectrum ... from zero frequency up to 20 GHz ...
and detect AM and FM radio, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other communication
signals.
A Rydberg receiver and spectrum analyzer detects a wide range of real-world radio frequency signals above a microwave circuit including AM radio, FM radio, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. (U.S. Army illustration
- February 2021)
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The Rydberg sensor uses laser beams to create highly-excited
Rydberg atoms directly above a microwave circuit, to boost and hone
in on the portion of the spectrum being measured. The Rydberg atoms
are sensitive to the circuit’s voltage, enabling the device to be
used as a sensitive probe for the wide range of signals in the RF
spectrum.
“All previous demonstrations of Rydberg atomic
sensors have only been able to sense small and specific regions of
the RF spectrum, but our sensor now operates continuously over a
wide frequency range for the first time,” said Dr. Kevin Cox, a
researcher at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command,
now known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory. “This is a really
important step toward proving that quantum sensors can provide a
new, and dominant, set of capabilities for our Soldiers, who are
operating in an increasingly complex electro-magnetic battlespace.”
The Rydberg spectrum analyzer has the potential to surpass
fundamental limitations of traditional electronics in sensitivity,
bandwidth and frequency range. Because of this, the lab’s Rydberg
spectrum analyzer and other quantum sensors have the potential to
unlock a new frontier of Army sensors for spectrum awareness,
electronic warfare, sensing and communications ... part of the
Army’s modernization strategy.
Researchers excite Rubidium atoms to high-energy Rydberg states. The atoms interact strongly with the circuit's electric fields, allowing detection and demodulation of any signal received into the circuit. (U.S. Army illustration
- February 2021)
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“Devices that are based on quantum constituents are one of the
Army’s top priorities to enable technical surprise in the
competitive future battlespace,” said Army researcher Dr. David
Meyer. “Quantum sensors in general, including the one demonstrated
here, offer unparalleled sensitivity and accuracy to detect a wide
range of mission-critical signals.”
The
peer-reviewed journal Physical Review Applied published the
researchers’ findings, Waveguide-coupled Rydberg spectrum
analyzer from 0 to 20 GigaHerz, co-authored by Army researchers Drs.
David Meyer, Paul Kunz, and Kevin Cox.
The researchers plan
additional development to improve the signal sensitivity of the
Rydberg spectrum analyzer, aiming to outperform existing
state-of-the-art technology.
February 9, 2021- Researchers use a Rydberg spectrum analyzer experimental apparatus at the DEVCOM Army Research Lab. (U.S. Army
photo)
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“Significant physics and engineering effort is still necessary
before the Rydberg analyzer can integrate into a field-testable
device,” Cox said. “One of the first steps will be understanding how
to retain and improve the device’s performance as the sensor size is
decreased. The Army has emerged as a leading developer of Rydberg
sensors, and we expect more cutting-edge research to result as this
futuristic technology concept quickly becomes a reality.”
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DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory is an element of the U.S. Army
Combat Capabilities Development Command. As the Army’s corporate
research laboratory, ARL is operationalizing science to achieve
transformational overmatch. Through collaboration across the
command’s core technical competencies, DEVCOM leads in the
discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based
capabilities required to make Soldiers more successful at winning
the nation’s wars and come home safely. DEVCOM is a major
subordinate command of the Army Futures Command.
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