Waveguide-coupled Rydberg spectrum analyzer from 0 to 20 GHz

We demonstrate an atomic radio-frequency (RF) receiver and spectrum analyzer based on thermal Rydberg atoms coupled to a planar microwave waveguide. We use an off-resonant RF heterodyne technique to achieve continuous operation for carrier frequencies ranging from DC to 20 GHz. The system achieves an intrinsic sensitivity of up to -120(2) dBm/Hz, DC coupling, 4 MHz instantaneous bandwidth, and over 80 dB of linear dynamic range. By connecting through a low-noise preamplifier, we demonstrate high-performance spectrum analysis with peak sensitivity of better than -145 dBm/Hz. Attaching a standard rabbit-ears antenna, the spectrum analyzer detects weak ambient signals including FM radio, AM radio, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. We also demonstrate waveguide-readout of the thermal Rydberg ensemble by non-destructively probing waveguide-atom interactions. The system opens the door for small, room-temperature, ensemble-based Rydberg sensors that surpass the sensitivity, bandwidth, and precision limitations of standard RF sensors, receivers, and analyzers.