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High Angular Momentum Coupling for Enhanced Sensing in the VHF Band

Published by National Institute of Standards and Technology | National Institute of Standards and Technology | Metadata Last Checked: August 02, 2025 | Last Modified: 2023-08-23 00:00:00
Recent advances in Rydberg atom electrometry detail promising applications in radiofrequency (RF) communications. Presently, most applications use carrier frequencies greater than 1 GHz where resonant Autler-Townes splitting provides the highest antenna sensitivity. This letter documents a series of experiments with Rydberg atomic antennas to collect and process waveforms from the automated identification system (AIS) used in maritime navigation in the VHF band. This is difficult with conventional resonant Autler-Townes based Rydberg sensing. Measurements were taken using electrically induced transparency (EIT) in rubidium and cesium vapor cells. We show the results from a newly published method called High Angular Momentum Matching Excited Raman (HAMMER) that enhances low frequency detection and exhibits superior sensitivity compared to the traditional AC Stark effect detection. We show the relationship between incident electric field strength and observed signal to noise ratio. With these results, we estimate the useable range of the atomic vapor cell antenna for AIS waveforms given current technology and detection techniques.

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  • README

    README
  • Data for figure 2: This data shows the stark shifting present for the 49 G and 49 F rydberg states.

    THE FIRST COLUMN OF THE DATA GIVES THE FIELD STRENGTH APPLIED (V/CM). THE REST OF THE COLUMNS GIVE THE STARK SHIFT IN MHZ FOR THE DIFFERENT RYDBERG STATES AS LABELED.
  • Figure 4 data: Spectrum of signal received

    THE FIRST COLUMN OF THE DATA IS THE SPECTRUM ANALYZER FREQUENCY. THE REST OF THE COLUMNS GIVE THE SIGNAL POWER FOR EACH FREQUENCY FOR DIFFERENT RECEIVED FIELD STRENGTHS.
  • Data for figure 9.

    THERE ARE TWO SETS OF DATA, ONE FOR RB AND ONE FOR CS. THE FIRST COLUMN IS RADIO GAIN AND THE SECOND COLUMN IS THE MEASURED FIELD.
  • Figure 5 data: SNR vs field strength received

    THERE ARE 4 GROUPS OF DATA THAT GIVE FIELD STRENGTH IN ONE COLUMN AND SNR IN ANOTHER. THE DIFFERENT GROUPS ARE FOR THE TWO DIFFERENT ATOMS (RB AND CS) AND THE TWO DIFFERENT METHODS FOR EACH (STARK AND HAMMER).
  • Figure 6 data: Packet success rate vs field strength received

    THERE ARE 4 GROUPS OF DATA THAT GIVE FIELD STRENGTH IN ONE COLUMN AND PACKET SUCCESS RATE IN ANOTHER. THE DIFFERENT GROUPS ARE FOR THE TWO DIFFERENT ATOMS (RB AND CS) AND THE TWO DIFFERENT METHODS FOR EACH (STARK AND HAMMER).
  • Figure 7 data: SNR improvement utilizing a split ring resonator

    THE DATA IS GIVEN IN 3 COLUMNS. COLUMN 1 GIVES THE SPECTRUM ANALYZER FREQUENCY, COLUMN 2 GIVES THE SIGNAL SPECTRUM WITHOUT A SPLIT RING PRESENT, AND COLUMN 3 GIVES THE SPECTRUM WITH THE SPLIT RING RESONATOR PRESENT.

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