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Angle-of-arrival detection of radio-frequency waves via Rydberg-atom fluorescence imaging of standing waves in a glass vapor cell

Noah Schlossberger1,*, Rajavardhan Talashila1,2, Nikunjkumar Prajapati1, and Christopher L. Holloway1

  • *Contact author: noah.schlossberger@nist.gov
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Phys. Rev. Applied 24, 024056 – Published 22 August, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/6dl6-754w

Abstract

We present a method for measuring the angle of arrival of 37-GHz radio-frequency (rf) radiation by mapping the standing waves generated in a rectangular glass vapor cell. These standing waves have regular and well-defined structure from which we can infer the angle and sign of the wavevector of the rf field. We map the field using spatially resolved light sheet spectroscopy of Rydberg states of rubidium atoms in the cell. Unlike traditional phased arrays, this detection scheme is compact, has an active area of nearly 4π steradians, and is sensitive to all rf polarizations. For in-plane measurements (ϕ=0), we demonstrate quantitative angle-of-arrival measurements with an uncertainty of the order of 1∘ in an 11-s measurement, and for out-of-plane measurements (arbitrary θ,ϕ), we demonstrate angle-of-arrival detection with uncertainty of the order of several degrees.

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Phys. Rev. Applied 24, 024056– Published 22 August, 2025
  • Received 28 April 2025
  • Revised 26 June 2025
  • Accepted 22 July 2025
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