Atomic radio receiver in action. What are its odds?

Representatives from NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) have modified the radio receiver based on atoms so that it can have a number of applications.

It mainly includes receiving signals and displaying color images from television and video games. This device uses atoms arranged to be highly sensitive to electromagnetic fields, including radio signals. The publication is available at AVS Quantum Science Describes ways to use this technology.

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Communication systems using atoms are not only a curiosity from the world of science, but also a solution with practical applications. They take up much less space and exhibit greater tolerance to interference than in the case of commonly used electronics. Thanks to the ability to display images, it should be especially useful, for example, in systems used in remote locations or in emergency situations.

We found a way to stream and receive videos through Rydberg’s atomic sensors. We are now broadcasting video and quantum games, and broadcasting video games using atoms. Basically, we coded a video game into a signal and detected it with atoms. The output goes directly to the TV. Chris Holloway explains

The atomic radio future is based on rubidium atoms

Using color lasers, scientists impact rubidium atoms in the states of Rydberg. Previously, they used cesium atoms for this, thanks to which they were able to demonstrate a basic radio receiver and a device that increased sensitivity by 100 times. By inserting a wireless signal into a glass container filled with atoms, the device can be prepared for reception.

First, energy shifts are detected in the atoms that modulate this signal, and then the output is transmitted to the TV. An analog-to-digital converter converts it into a graphic matrix format so that it can be displayed. So far, scientists have analyzed the laser beam size, power, and detection methods required for atoms to receive video in a standard definition format.

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The beam size affects the average time it takes for the atoms to interact with the laser. This period is inversely related to the bandwidth of the receiver, so a shorter time and a smaller packet yield more data. This is because the atoms move in and out of the interaction region, so smaller regions result in a higher signal refresh rate and better resolution. With smaller beam diameters – less than 100 micrometers – it was possible to achieve much faster color interactions and perception. The system eventually achieved a data transfer rate of 100 megabits per second.