Rydberg Receivers for Space Applications
Gianluca Allinson, Mark Bason, Alexis Bonnin, Sebastian Bor\'owka, Petronilo Martin-Iglesias, Manuel Martin Neira, Mateusz Mazelanik, Richard Murchie, Micha{\l} Parniak, Sophio Pataraia, Thibaud Ruelle, Sylvain Schwartz, Aaron Strangfeld

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.
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Taxonomy
TopicsCold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates · Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research · Spectroscopy and Laser Applications
