Phase-sensitive signal detection with a Rydberg-atom quantum receiver based on a Raman two-photon process

Abstract

Rydberg-atom quantum receivers are an emerging class of quantum radio-frequency sensors. Their main advantages are a widely tunable detection range, determined by the selected Rydberg transitions, and the possibility of SI-traceable electric-field measurements, because the measured field is related to the transition dipole moment and Planck’s constant [1].
Amplitude detection of electromagnetic fields can be performed by measuring Autler–Townes splitting in electromagnetically induced transparency spectra. One of the most developed methods for phase-sensitive detection is superheterodyne readout: in addition to the probe and coupling lasers, a local microwave field close in frequency to the received signal is applied to the atomic medium, so that the atomic response appears at the difference frequency [2].
This report considers a method for realizing a phase-sensitive Rydberg receiver based on a Raman two-photon process. We derive density-matrix solution with explicit dependence on the signal phase, and propose a procedure for extracting phase information from the first harmonic of the probe coherence.

References:
1. Zhang Y. et al. Rydberg Atomic Receivers for Wireless Communications: Fundamentals, Potential, Applications, and Challenges //arXiv preprint arXiv:2507.22909. – 2025.
2. Jing M. et al. Atomic superheterodyne receiver based on microwave-dressed Rydberg spectroscopy //Nature Physics. – 2020. – Т. 16. – №. 9. – С. 911-915.

Speaker

Vladislav Katkov
Innopolis University
Russia

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