Rydberg Receivers for Space Applications

TL;DR

This review explores the potential of Rydberg-atom sensors for space applications, highlighting their advantages, limitations, and future research directions in areas like radiometry, radar, and terahertz sensing.

Contribution

It compares five Rydberg-atom sensor architectures against space needs and proposes a staged roadmap for advancing their space application readiness.

Findings

Promising for radiometry, radar, and terahertz sensing

Current limitations include shot noise and large size

A staged research roadmap is proposed

Abstract

Rydberg-atom sensors convert radiofrequency, microwave and terahertz fields into optical signals with SI-traceable calibration, high sensitivity, and broad tunability. This review assesses their potential for space applications by comparing five general architectures (Autler-Townes, AC-Stark, superheterodyne, radiofrequency-to-optical conversion, and fluorescence) against space application needs. We identify promising roles in radiometry, radar, terahertz sensing, and in-orbit calibration, and outline key limitations, including shot noise, sparse terahertz transitions, and currently large Size, Weight, Power and Cost. A staged roadmap highlights which uncertainties should be resolved first and how research organisations, industry and space agencies could take the lead for the different aspects.