OPTO-ATOMICS CORP — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: S11

Description

Over the past decade, the Rydberg atom-based RF/microwave sensing technology has emerged as a promising sensing solution for a radar/radio receiver. In the Rydberg-atom-based sensing,nbsp; highly excited (ldquo;Rydbergrdquo;) atoms are utilized as antennas, which allows sensitive and SI-traceable detection of RF/microwave fields over a wide frequency range (1 MHz to ~100 GHz) with a single probe. However, one of the major hurdles to wide applications and field deployment of the quantum radar/radio technology is its size, weight, and power (SWaP), mostly from its system overhead (e.g., laser subsystem). In particular, the coupling laser driving the ldquo;upperrdquo; atomic transition in a two-photon excitation scheme of Rydberg atoms is not well-suited for field applications due to its SWaP and vulnerability to environmental perturbations. Furthermore, coupling lasers do not have a compact frequency reference for laser stabilization.nbsp;To address the need, Opto-Atomics Corp. (OAC) proposes to develop a Rydberg Sensor Laser (RySL), which will provide a high-power (gt; 0.5 W), tunable (range gt; 3 nm) coupling-laser output. One of the main advantages of RySL is that its output is stabilized to a built-in frequency standard, thereby allowing reliable electrometry operation with long-term stability. In addition, RySL design significantly reduces free-space optical components, making the system more compact, reliable, and less sensitive to misalignment and environmental disturbances. In Phase I, OAC will design and assemble key system components of RySL, evaluate their performance, and perform feasibility demonstrations. We will also conduct a preliminary design of the fully-packaged RySL system for future development.