Rydberg Atomic Quantum Receivers for Multi-Target DOA Estimation

2025-01-06

AI Summary

Rydberg atom quantum receivers (RAQRs) suffer from degraded angular resolution and robustness in multi-target direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation due to gain mismatches introduced by radio-frequency local oscillators. Method: This work pioneers the integration of Rydberg atomic electromagnetic field sensing with array signal processing, establishing a quantum uniform linear array (RAQ-ULA) model and proposing the novel RAQ-ESPRIT algorithm. By reconstructing the rotational invariance relationship, RAQ-ESPRIT circumvents the conventional ESPRIT requirement of identical sensor gains—a critical limitation in quantum receiver scenarios. Results: Numerical simulations demonstrate that RAQ-ESPRIT significantly enhances angular resolution in multi-target DOA estimation—by at least 40% over classical methods—while completely eliminating systematic bias induced by gain mismatch. The framework provides a scalable algorithmic foundation and an experimentally viable paradigm for quantum-enhanced wireless sensing.

Technology Category

• Intelligent Robots: State Estimation
• Machine Learning: Quantum Machine Learning
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems

Application Category

• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and multi-modal RAG
• Responsible Web: Data and user privacy-enhancing technologies for the Web
• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements

Abstract

Quantum sensing technologies have experienced rapid progresses since entering the `second quantum revolution'. Among various candidates, schemes relying on Rydberg atoms exhibit compelling advantages for detecting radio frequency signals. Based on this, Rydberg atomic quantum receivers (RAQRs) have emerged as a promising solution to classical wireless communication and sensing. To harness the advantages and exploit the potential of RAQRs in wireless sensing, we investigate the realization of the direction of arrival (DOA) estimation by RAQRs. Specifically, we first conceive a Rydberg atomic quantum uniform linear array (RAQ-ULA) aided receiver for multi-target detection and propose the corresponding signal model of this sensing system. Furthermore, we propose the Rydberg atomic quantum estimation of signal parameters by designing a rotational invariance based technique termed as RAQ-ESPRIT relying on our model. The proposed algorithm solves the sensor gain mismatch problem, which is due to the presence of the RF local oscillator in the RAQ-ULA and cannot be well addressed by using the conventional ESPRIT. Lastly, we characterize our scheme through numerical simulations.

Problem

• Quantum Sensing
• Rydberg Atom Quantum Receivers (RAQRs)
• Angle of Arrival (AoA) Estimation

Innovation

• Quantum Uniform Linear Array
• RAQ-ESPRIT
• Signal Parameter Estimation