This quantum radar has the capability to detect objects hidden underground.

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The glass cell that functions as the radar’s quantum component is filled with cesium atoms maintained at room temperature. The researchers utilize lasers to cause each individual cesium atom to expand to nearly the size of a bacterium, approximately 10,000 times its normal size. Atoms in this enlarged state are referred to as Rydberg atoms.

When incoming radio waves interact with Rydberg atoms, they disrupt the arrangement of electrons around their nuclei. This disturbance can be detected by shining lasers on the atoms, prompting them to emit light; when the atoms are influenced by a radio wave, the color of the emitted light shifts. By monitoring the color of this light, the atoms are effectively used as a radio receiver. Rydberg atoms are responsive to a broad spectrum of radio frequencies without the necessity of altering the physical setup, according to Michał Parniak, a physicist at the University of Warsaw in Poland, who was not involved in the study. This suggests that a single compact radar device could potentially function across multiple frequency bands for various applications.

Simons’s team evaluated the radar by placing it in a specially designed room with foam spikes on the floor, ceiling, and walls, mimicking stalactites and stalagmites. These spikes absorb, rather than reflect, nearly all radio waves that strike them. This setup simulates the effects of a large open space, allowing the group to assess the radar’s imaging capabilities without unwanted reflections from walls.

The researchers installed a radio wave transmitter in the room alongside their Rydberg atom receiver, which was connected to an optical table positioned outside the room. They directed radio waves at a copper plate similar in size to a sheet of paper, along with some pipes and a steel rod placed up to five meters away. The radar enabled them to identify the objects with an accuracy of 4.7 centimeters. The team shared their findings on the research platform arXiv in late June.

This work brings quantum radar closer to becoming a commercially viable product. “This is really about assembling elements in an effective way,” states Parniak. While prior studies have shown how Rydberg atoms can function as radio wave detectors, he notes that this group has integrated the receiver with the device more seamlessly than before.

Other researchers are investigating the applications of Rydberg atoms for various radar functions. For example, Parniak’s team has recently developed a Rydberg atom sensor to measure radio frequencies for troubleshooting chips used in automotive radar. Additionally, researchers are exploring the potential for radar employing Rydberg-atom receivers to assess soil moisture.

This device serves as just one illustration of a quantum sensor, a technology that incorporates quantum elements into standard tools. For instance, the US government has produced gyroscopes that use atomic wave properties for rotational sensing, which is essential for navigation. Moreover, researchers have developed quantum sensors that utilize impurities in diamond to measure magnetic fields, applicable in biomedical settings.

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