A team of researchers supported by the Ohio Federal Research Network (OFRN) has demonstrated an advancement in quantum sensing, showing that a Rydberg atom-based receiver can detect and recover radio frequency (RF) signals intentionally designed to look like background noise.
The work involved collaborators from GhostWave, Purdue University, the University of Massachusetts Boston, The Ohio State University, and other research partners, demonstrating the power of cross-sector collaboration in moving promising technologies from the laboratory toward operational relevance.
Published in IEEE Photonics Journal, the research represents an important step toward using quantum sensors in real-world communications environments. While Rydberg atom technology has shown promise for RF sensing in laboratory settings, this work demonstrates the ability to receive and process complex broadband waveforms similar to those used in secure communications systems.
The team focused on noise-like spread-spectrum signals, which distribute information across a wide frequency range and are designed to be difficult to detect or intercept. Using a quantum sensor built around highly excited Rydberg atoms, researchers successfully recovered information from signals spanning approximately 20 MHz of bandwidth around a 2.5 GHz carrier frequency. Even when the received waveform appeared indistinguishable from noise on conventional instruments, the system was able to extract the encoded data.
“Quantum RF sensing has the potential to fundamentally change how we detect and process signals in contested environments,” said Dean Zody, CEO of GhostWave Inc. “Our team’s ability to recover spread‑spectrum waveforms that appear indistinguishable from noise is a breakthrough that opens the door to new communications and sensing architectures.”
One of the key challenges was overcoming the traditional tradeoff between sensitivity and bandwidth. Early versions of the system were highly sensitive but only over a narrow range of frequencies, making broadband signal recovery difficult. By optimizing the sensor's response across a wider frequency range, the team achieved the consistency needed to reliably recover spread-spectrum signals—an important milestone for future quantum RF systems.
The research also highlights the growing potential of quantum sensors as alternatives to conventional RF technologies. Rather than relying solely on traditional antennas, the system uses laser-controlled atoms that respond directly to electromagnetic fields, opening new possibilities for communications, spectrum awareness, and sensing in contested environments.
While classical antennas still outperform the current system in sensitivity, the researchers identified several pathways for improvement, including enhanced photodetectors and reduced system noise. These advances could help close the performance gap and further expand the practical use of quantum RF receivers. As quantum sensing continues to mature, breakthroughs like this are helping move the technology from scientific exploration toward practical deployment, bringing new capabilities to communications, sensing, and national security missions.
“For OFRN, the project reflects the strength of Ohio's collaborative research ecosystem, bringing together industry, academic, and federal partners to advance emerging technologies with real-world applications,” said Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Mark Bartman, Executive Director, OFRN.
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About Ohio Federal Research Network (OFRN)
The Ohio Federal Research Network (OFRN) has the mission to stimulate Ohio’s innovation economy by building statewide university-industry research collaborations that meet the requirements of Ohio’s federal laboratories, resulting in the creation of technologies that drive job growth for the State of Ohio. The OFRN is a program managed by Parallax Advanced Research in collaboration with The Ohio State University and is funded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
About Parallax Advanced Research and the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI)
Parallax Advanced Research is a research institute that tackles global challenges through strategic partnerships with government, industry, and academia. It accelerates innovation, addresses critical global issues, and develops groundbreaking ideas with its partners. With offices in Ohio and Virginia, Parallax aims to deliver new solutions and speed them to market. In 2023, Parallax and the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) formed a collaborative affiliation to drive innovation and technological advancements in Ohio and for the nation. The Ohio Aerospace Institute plays a pivotal role in advancing the aerospace industry in Ohio and the nation by fostering collaborations between universities, aerospace industries, and government organizations, and managing aerospace research, education, and workforce development projects.
