Sensor receiver having Rydberg cell and spaced apart pulsed probe beams and associated methods
A sensor receiver includes a Rydberg cell configured to be exposed to a radio frequency (RF) signal, and a probe source configured to generate a plurality of spaced apart pulsed probe beams within the Rydberg cell. The pulsed probe beams are offset in time from one another. A detector is positioned downstream from the Rydberg cell.
1. A sensor receiver comprising:
a Rydberg cell configured to be exposed to a radio frequency (RF) signal;
a probe source configured to generate a plurality of spaced apart pulsed probe beams within the Rydberg cell, with the pulsed probe beams being offset in time from one another; and
a detector downstream from the Rydberg cell.
2. The sensor receiver of claim 1 , wherein the probe source is configured to generate the plurality of spaced apart pulsed probe beams without scanning.
3. The sensor receiver of claim 1 , wherein the probe source comprises an optical source, and a pulse shaper downstream from the optical source.
4. The sensor receiver of claim 3 , wherein the probe source comprises a beam splitter downstream from the pulse shaper, and a respective optical delay element in a path of each beam downstream from the beam splitter.
5. The sensor receiver of claim 4 , wherein each optical delay element comprises a respective different length of optical fiber.
6. The sensor receiver of claim 1 , comprising a first microlens adjacent a first side of the Rydberg cell, and a second microlens adjacent a second side of the Rydberg cell.
7. The sensor receiver of claim 1 , comprising an excitation source coupled to the Rydberg cell.
8. The sensor receiver of claim 7 , wherein the excitation source comprises an excitation laser and at least one mirror downstream therefrom.
9. The sensor receiver of claim 7 , wherein the excitation source comprises a tunable excitation source.
10. The sensor receiver of claim 1 , comprising a controller coupled to the Rydberg cell, probe source, and detector.
11. A sensor receiver comprising:
a Rydberg cell configured to be exposed to a radio frequency (RF) signal;
a probe source comprising an optical source, and a pulse shaper downstream therefrom and configured to generate a plurality of non-scanned, spaced apart, pulsed probe beams within the Rydberg cell, with the non-scanned, spaced apart, pulsed probe beams being offset in time from one another; and
a detector downstream from the Rydberg cell.
12. The sensor receiver of claim 11 , wherein the probe source comprises a beam splitter downstream from the pulse shaper, and a respective optical delay element in a path of each beam downstream from the beam splitter.
13. The sensor receiver of claim 12 , wherein each optical delay element comprises a respective different length of optical fiber.
14. The sensor receiver of claim 11 , comprising a first microlens adjacent a first side of the Rydberg cell, and a second microlens adjacent a second side of the Rydberg cell.
15. The sensor receiver of claim 11 , comprising an excitation source coupled to the Rydberg cell.
16. The sensor receiver of claim 15 , wherein the excitation source comprises an excitation laser and at least one mirror downstream therefrom.
17. The sensor receiver of claim 15 , wherein the excitation source comprises a tunable excitation source.
18. The sensor receiver of claim 11 , comprising a controller coupled to the Rydberg cell, probe source, and detector.
19. A method for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal comprising:
exposing a Rydberg cell to the RF signal;
operating a probe source to generate a plurality of spaced apart pulsed probe beams within the Rydberg cell, with the pulsed probe beams being offset in time from one another; and
operating a detector downstream from the Rydberg cell.
20. The method of claim 19 , comprising generating the plurality of spaced apart pulsed probe beams without scanning.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the probe source comprises an optical source, a pulse shaper downstream from the optical source, a beam splitter downstream from the pulse shaper, and a respective optical delay element in a path of each beam downstream from the beam splitter.
22. The method of claim 19 , comprising operating an excitation source coupled to the Rydberg cell.