Application-focused R&D of Rydberg atom electric field sensors

Rydberg atom electric field sensors are projected to enable novel capabilities for communications and sensing due to their small size, high sensitivity, and broad tunability. While these atomic electric field sensors will not replace traditional receivers in commodity applications for RF signal reception, these sensors could be an enabling technology in niche application spaces. We will quantitatively compare the performance of Rydberg atom electric field sensors to traditional devices and discuss their advantages and limitations for select applications with a particular focus on resilient communications and spectrum situational awareness.  We will also discuss design considerations with creating a deployable sensor.