Control schemes for a practical quantum Rydberg antenna

Rydberg atoms offer a powerful platform for quantum sensing due to their strong electric dipole moments and room temperature operation. Starting with a vapor cell of alkali metal atoms addressed by lasers, a variety of schemes have been proposed to implement a flexible and highly sensitive Rydberg antenna. A single compact vapor cell can be tuned to receive almost any radio frequency and has already demonstrated remarkable sensitivity. Unlike conventional antennae, tuning a Rydberg antenna is a complex process requiring multiple lasers tuned to address specific atomic transitions based on the desired frequency, bandwidth, and sensitivity. This process requires sophisticated optics and detailed modeling of atomic physics. In practice, any practical Rydberg antenna must also be accompanied by a software package to translate the desired radio tuning and modulation into control inputs for the laser hardware and interpret the output. Here we present a numerical investigation of Rydberg antenna performance under optimal control schemes for realizing the power and potential of Rydberg antennae for practical radio receivers.