The U.S. Army has teamed up with startup Rydberg Technologies to create the world’s first long-distance wireless atomic quantum receiver, a breakthrough technology that could pave the way for new communications that are more resistant to jamming and hackers, the company said Thursday.
What are quantum sensors? They are receivers or antennas that are far more sensitive to tiny changes in electromagnetic fields than ordinary receivers or antennas, and consume much less energy. How are they so sensitive? As Dave Anderson, CEO of Rydberg Technologies, explains in a 2018 paper, the key is Rydberg atoms. Rydberg atoms are cesium atoms with highly excited electrons, which gives them a high quantum number reflecting the large distance between the electrons and the nucleus. That distance makes the atoms incredibly sensitive to subtle changes in the electromagnetic field, and that response can be used to detect radio waves beyond what ordinary antennas can achieve.
Such sensors can be used for a variety of purposes, including detecting a wider range of wavelengths than conventional antennas, and are less susceptible to electromagnetic interference.
This is a major military concern, as the Pentagon looks to the future to face adversaries with highly effective electromagnetic warfare capabilities. Quantum sensors could enable detection of otherwise elusive drones and even soldiers carrying encrypted devices, without being able to decrypt the communications themselves. They could also help the military find new pockets in the spectrum for communication between drones, jets, ships, satellites and soldiers, even in the midst of intense electromagnetic interference.
The demonstration took place during the Army’s recent field testing of NetModX, and was the first demonstration of the technology at long-range signal transmission, Anderson told Defense One in an email.
“We cannot disclose the details of the demo results, but ARx [atomic antenna receiver] Achieved [radio frequency] “In our tests, we were able to receive signals and communicate wirelessly at distances of over one kilometre – this is not a practical or fundamental limit,” Anderson added.
“Further work on miniaturizing and ruggedizing these systems is necessary for widespread deployment. Next steps in research and experimentation include pursuing the fundamental capabilities of atoms and light. We are still a long way from the fundamental quantum limits,” he said.
The research was partially funded by the Defence Innovation Unit.
