Simultaneous multi-band radio-frequency detection using high-orbital-angular-momentum states in a Rydberg-atom receiver

Allinson, Gianluca; Jamieson, Matthew J; Mackellar, Andrew R; Downes, Lucy A; Adams, C Stuart; Weatherill, Kevin J

Abstract

We demonstrate simultaneous detection of radio-frequency (RF) fields ranging from the very high-frequency (VHF) band (128 MHz) to terahertz frequencies (0.61 THz) using a caesium Rydberg-atom receiver. The RF fields are concurrently applied to a series of atomic transitions involving states of increasing orbital angular momentum, where the energy separations become progressively smaller, allowing access to a very wide range of radio frequencies. We show that the optical response of the system in the presence of the RF fields can be reproduced theoretically using a simple Lindblad-master-equation approach. Furthermore, we demonstrate experimentally that a series of amplitude-modulated tones can be detected simultaneously using multiple carrier frequencies. This demonstration opens the way for RF communications across multiple bands simultaneously using a single optical receiver.

Citation

Allinson, G., Jamieson, M. J., Mackellar, A. R., Downes, L. A., Adams, C. S., & Weatherill, K. J. (2024). Simultaneous multi-band radio-frequency detection using high-orbital-angular-momentum states in a Rydberg-atom receiver. Physical Review Research, 6, Article 023317

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 22, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jun 24, 2024
• Publication Date: Jun 24, 2024
• Deposit Date: Nov 21, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 24, 2024
• Journal: Physical Review Research
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Article Number: 023317
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1945652
• Publisher URL: https://journals.aps.org/prresearch/