Ruggedized Wideband Low-Observable RF Receiver with Quantum-Enhanced Sensitivity

Advances in quantum technologies have reached the forefront of U.S. military interests, as the Department of Defense (DoD) secures a technical foothold on information warfare dominance. The Department of the Navy (DoN) has vested interest in the broad field of quantum technology research, as it pertains to computing, communications, and sensing, for significantly enhanced capabilities of naval assets above, on, and under the sea. Specifically, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) seeks to apply advanced quantum technologies to realize low cost, size, weight, and consumed power (C-SWaP) in electronic warfare (EW) applications of low-observability and low probability of intercept (LPI) communications and sensing on tactical and carrier-launched air platforms. Utilizing the quantum-mechanically enabled properties of Rydberg atoms, which can operate at carrier frequencies from MHz to THz, Freedom Photonics LLC proposes to develop a high-sensitivity, high-bandwidth radio frequency (RF) receiver, that is both low-C-SWaP and ruggedized for use on naval air platforms.