Near-field antenna measurement based on Rydberg-atom probe

Area of Science:

• Electromagnetics
• Atomic Physics
• Antenna Metrology

Background:

• Traditional near-field antenna measurement methods rely on metal probes, which suffer from limitations like large size, electromagnetic interference, and complex signal processing, hindering accuracy.
• These drawbacks restrict the optimization and precision achievable in characterizing antenna performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a novel near-field antenna measurement technique utilizing Rydberg atoms.
• To demonstrate superior accuracy and overcome the limitations associated with conventional metal probe methods.

Main Methods:

• A vapor cell containing Rydberg atoms replaced the conventional metal probe in a near-field measurement system.
• Amplitude and phase measurements were performed on a 2.389 GHz signal from a standard gain horn antenna.
• The acquired near-field data was transformed into a far-field pattern.

Main Results:

• The Rydberg atom-based method achieved high accuracy in near-field antenna measurements.
• Amplitude and phase measurements showed good agreement with simulated results and traditional metal probe measurements.
• Longitudinal phase testing demonstrated high precision, with errors below 1.7%.

Conclusions:

• Rydberg atom-based near-field measurements offer a promising alternative to traditional methods, providing enhanced accuracy and traceability to the electric field.
• This technique overcomes the inherent limitations of metal probes, paving the way for more precise antenna metrology.