Ruggedized Wideband Low-Observable Quantum RF Receiver with Enhanced Sensitivity

Freedom Photonics, LLC has formed a strong team to build the first small form factor RF quantum receiver based on the novel properties of Rydberg atoms. A key technological advantage of this sensor platform is the ability to operate over an extremely wide frequency band ranging from MHz to THz by changing only the laser frequency exciting the atomic states. Modern avionics radios, such as the AN/ARC-120, are large and power-hungry. Next generation radios can utilize an electrically small antenna via Rydberg atoms, significantly increasing EM sensitivity while drastically reducing SWaP. Rydberg type atoms are placed in high energy levels, whereby RF/Microwave energies couple to the highly excited states and can be read out optically. High-power, low-linewidth, and quasi-tunable laser sources are required to realize such a sensor, and Freedom Photonics is well positioned to produce sources that address either Rb or Cs based Rydberg atoms.