MANTRAS: SBIR-XL

OUSD (R&E) critical technology area(s): Integrated Sensing and Cyber, Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance, Quantum Science

Objective: Demonstrate a low-SWaP, ruggedized, and manufacturable platform for real-time measurement, data acquisition, and analysis of wideband RF signals using Rydberg-based atomic sensors.

Description: Rydberg-based RF receivers are a class of emerging quantum technologies that are potentially capable of reception over an immensely broad carrier band (from HF/UHF to the millimeter-wave regime), high sensitivity, and passive operability within a single compact package.[1-3] Each of these attributes can, in turn, lend themselves to disruptive applications beyond the capabilities of conventional electro-optic, antenna-based, or plasmonic receivers.

While the potential capabilities of Rydberg-based receivers have been validated to an extent within laboratory-scale proof-of-concept demonstrations, there are several technical challenges that need to be addressed en route to a viable DoW-relevant technology. Each of the particular attributes of Rydberg-based sensors that allow for beyond-SoA performance, i.e. all-optical tunability across orders of magnitude in reception frequency, quantum-limited sensitivity, coherent detection within compact vapor cells etc, also require the development of low-SWaP photonic and optolectronic systems for quantum state preparation and measurement; integrated optical frequency combs for wide tunability; and low-latency systems for control, measurement, and spectral analysis. At present, such quantum-enabling technologies have yet to demonstrate the stringent performance requirements needed to supplant larger, laboratory-scale infrastructure. This void has stymied the transition of such quantum devices to widely deployable, low-SWaP technologies as well as the future scalability of such systems to address a growing landscape of applications in atom-based sensing; and Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT).

In this context, ongoing programs at DARPA[4] are developing integrated photonic architectures ranging from on-chip narrow-linewidth laser sources and amplifiers at wavelengths of relevance to workhorse atomic species; microcomb-driven photonic integrated circuits for the stabilization and distribution of light; low-loss optical modulators and filters that could be harnessed for quantum state preparation, control and interrogation of atoms; and high-speed optical routing and processing architectures. It is anticipated that continued progress in chip-scale photonics will lead to the maturation of these enabling technologies at a level that can match and eventually surpass the performance of large-scale laboratory setups. It is also anticipated that the development of such chip-scale or integrated sub-systems can lead to novel capabilities in deployable Rydberg-based quantum technologies that are not currently accessible with conventional antenna-based, electro-optic, or plasmonic techniques.

The unique attributes of Rydberg-based RF receivers also pose challenges to the design and performance of control/signal processing architectures that are required to operationalize these systems. To achieve requisite levels of low-latency control, wideband signal processing, and autonomy of Rydberg-based devices, the aforementioned efforts on photonics will need to be complemented by innovative designs of low-latency system-on-chip (SoC) control/signal processing systems.[5] Further, in anticipation of the large landscape of applications for such receivers, it is preferable that such control/signal processing systems are co-designed in an application-oriented fashion, and compatible with an open-system architecture that enables seamless inter-operability of multiple application-specific control/signal processing architectures with the same photonic and optoelectronic system. This solicitation seeks to co-integrate Rydberg photonic systems with flexible low-latency control architectures for real-time measurement and processing of wideband RF signals in a low-SWaP and manufacturable platform for Rydberg atomic receivers.

Phase I

This topic is soliciting Direct-to-Phase II (DP2) proposals only. Proposers should provide documentation of the following proof-of-concept capabilities:

• Laboratory scale performance of Rydberg-based atomic receivers for the proposed application showing performance comparable to, or exceeding, that of conventional antenna-based, plasmonic, or electro-optic receivers.
• Proof-of-concept signal acquisition and processing algorithms implemented on Rydberg-based receivers. This proof-of-concept implementation does not need to be in a fully integrated ASIC or low-SWaP system but should be compatible with an eventual real-time implementation in a compact platform that meets the SWaP metrics indicated in the solicitation.

Phase II

Phase II base will produce a system-level design and laboratory prototype demonstration of a full integrated photonic/electronic and control/signal processing system for a Rydberg atomic receiver. To enable appropriate comparisons with the performance of conventional RF systems, proposers may choose a specific application (e.g. wideband spectrum awareness, communications, signal identification and classification etc.) for the demonstration of their fully integrated Rydberg atomic receiver. Proposers should provide appropriate justifications that their proposed integrated Rydberg atomic receiver is amenable to other potential applications through nominal changes to the electronic control/signal processing system with minimal alterations to the photonic/optoelectronic architecture. The full system should target a form factor of <10L and a total power consumption of <50W. The design should be capable of meeting the following metrics for environmental ruggedness and deployability:

• Operational temperatures: -10 to 55 deg-C
• Vibration noise (up to 1 kHz): 0.01 g2/Hz
• Radiative emissions as per MIL-STD-461 for the proposer-defined application/platform

The Phase II base period of performance is 12 months and should conform to the schedule indicated below.

(i) Schedule/Milestones/Deliverables for Phase II base

Phase II base fixed milestones for this program should include:

• Month 1: Preliminary report on Phase II base design for the integrated system, and report on acquisition and fabrication schedule for the end-of-Phase II base laboratory demonstration.
• Month 6: Interim report describing component fabrication, assembly, and testing. The report should include a discussion of any differences between realized component/system performance and the design requirements for the proposed application.
• Month 12: Report describing the results of laboratory demonstrations of performance of integrated system for the proposed application, and a comparison to the SoA performance of conventional receivers for the same application. Report should also include preliminary testing and evaluation of the laboratory prototype for environmental resilience as per the metrics enumerated above.

The Phase II option will build upon the successful Phase II base efforts to demonstrate field testing and performance of a ruggedized and deployable Rydberg receiver system in a realistic operational environment. The Phase II option period of performance is 12 months and should conform to the schedule indicated below.

(i) Schedule/Milestones/Deliverables for Phase II option

Phase II option fixed milestones for this program should include:

• Month 1: Preliminary report on system-level integration, ruggedization, and real-time signal processing sub-systems of the deployable Rydberg receiver; and a testing schedule for the Rydberg receiver system in an operational environment.
• Month 6: Interim report describing system assembly, testing, and performance of the deployable unit with comparisons relative to specifications of Phase II base design. The report should also include test results and evaluation of the deployable unit as per the environmental resilience metrics enumerated above.
• Month 12: Final report describing the results of field tests of the integrated Rydberg atomic receiver and performance comparisons against the conventional state-of-the-art (SoA).

Phase III dual use applications

The development of integrated, low-SWaP quantum systems for applications to sensing and PNT are each of critical relevance to several DoD applications. In addition, these technologies are crucial for various commercial markets including communications, spectrum awareness, design and testing of telecommunications infrastructure, and automation. It is anticipated that the development of scalable, robust and compact platforms for wideband Rydberg-based signal acquisition and processing will inform and enable these, and other, applications.

References

1. [1] H. Fan et al, Atom based RF electric field sensing, J. Phys. B, 48, 202001 (2015);
2. [2] C. S. Adams et al, Rydberg atom quantum technologies, J. Phys. B 53, 012002 (2020);
3. [3] A. Artusio-Glimpse et al, Modern RF measurements with hot atoms: a technology review of Rydberg Atom-based radio frequency field sensors, IEEE Microwave 23, 5 (2022)
4. [4] https://www.darpa.mil/research/programs/science--atomic-vapors-for-new-technologies
5. [5] Y. Salathe et al, Low-latency digital signal processing for feedback and feedforward in quantum computing and communication, Phys. Rev. Appl. 9, 034011 (2018); J. P. G. van Dijk et al, The electronic interface for quantum processors, arXiv:1811.01693 (2019)

Keywords

Quantum, Sensors, PNT, Nanophotonics, Control, Integration, Rydberg, Manufacturability, Photonic Integrated Circuits, Chip-scale Quantum Technologies

TPOC-1-PoC

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