Waveguide-Coupled Rydberg Spectrum Analyzer from 0 to 20 GHz

We demonstrate an atomic 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 $\ensuremath{-}120(2)$, 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 $\ensuremath{-}145\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\mathrm{dBm/Hz}$. Attaching a standard rabbit-ears antenna, the spectrum analyzer detects weak ambient signals including FM radio, AM radio, WiFi, and bluetooth. We also demonstrate waveguide-readout of the thermal Rydberg ensemble by nondestructively 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.