An Imaging Radar Using a Rydberg Atom Receiver
Atomic Physics
2026-01-30 v1 Applied Physics
Abstract
Rydberg atoms in a gas form are highly sensitive electric field probes capable of detecting and measuring the amplitude, phase, and polarization of broadband time-varying signals. Here, we present the performance of a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar using a Rydberg atom-based subwavelength sensor as a receiver. This sensor down converts the radar echoes, eliminates key FMCW electrical components, and performs two-dimensional target localization. To demonstrate its capabilities, we present an RF image of a scene containing targets in an anechoic room with radar cross sections down to 0 dBsm at a distance up to 5 m and with a range resolution of 4.7 cm.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2506.20862,
title = {An Imaging Radar Using a Rydberg Atom Receiver},
author = {William J. Watterson and Nikunjkumar Prajapati and Rodrigo Castillo-Garza and Samuel Berweger and Noah Schlossberger and Alexandra Artusio-Glimpse and Christopher L. Holloway and Matthew T. Simons},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2506.20862},
year = {2026}
}