Rydberg atomic quantum receivers for multi-target DOA estimation
Rydberg atomic quantum receivers for multi-target DOA estimation
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 wireless receiver for multi-target DOA detection and propose the corresponding signal model of this sensing system. Our model reveals that the presence of the radio-frequency local oscillator in the RAQ-ULA creates sensor gain mismatches, which degrade the DOA estimation significantly by employing the classical Estimation of Signal Parameters via Rotational Invariant Techniques (ESPRIT). To solve this sensor gain mismatch problem, we propose the Rydberg atomic quantum ESPRIT (RAQ-ESPRIT) relying on our model. Lastly, we characterize our scheme through numerical simulations, where the results exhibit that it is capable of reducing the estimation error of its classical counterpart on the order of > 400- fold and > 9000- fold in the PSL and SQL, respectively.
Gong, Tierui
724e7059-320e-4418-9bdd-c30e4387aea3
Yuen, Chau
0dd04333-bade-4812-b3df-a416597f1325
See, Chong Meng Samson
33a54e41-0818-4918-a213-7558c5b44612
Debbah, Merouane
fe23e026-1926-49c7-97d7-425ad555152a
Hanzo, Lajos
66e7266f-3066-4fc0-8391-e000acce71a1
16 December 2025
Gong, Tierui
724e7059-320e-4418-9bdd-c30e4387aea3
Yuen, Chau
0dd04333-bade-4812-b3df-a416597f1325
See, Chong Meng Samson
33a54e41-0818-4918-a213-7558c5b44612
Debbah, Merouane
fe23e026-1926-49c7-97d7-425ad555152a
Hanzo, Lajos
66e7266f-3066-4fc0-8391-e000acce71a1
Gong, Tierui, Yuen, Chau, See, Chong Meng Samson, Debbah, Merouane and Hanzo, Lajos
(2025)
Rydberg atomic quantum receivers for multi-target DOA estimation.
IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology.
(doi:10.1109/TVT.2025.3644954).
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 wireless receiver for multi-target DOA detection and propose the corresponding signal model of this sensing system. Our model reveals that the presence of the radio-frequency local oscillator in the RAQ-ULA creates sensor gain mismatches, which degrade the DOA estimation significantly by employing the classical Estimation of Signal Parameters via Rotational Invariant Techniques (ESPRIT). To solve this sensor gain mismatch problem, we propose the Rydberg atomic quantum ESPRIT (RAQ-ESPRIT) relying on our model. Lastly, we characterize our scheme through numerical simulations, where the results exhibit that it is capable of reducing the estimation error of its classical counterpart on the order of > 400- fold and > 9000- fold in the PSL and SQL, respectively.
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RAQR_DOA_20251211
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Accepted/In Press date: 9 December 2025
Published date: 16 December 2025
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 508570
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/508570
ISSN: 0018-9545
PURE UUID: 84661847-ef96-4b21-8f70-7ea999290a79
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Date deposited: 27 Jan 2026 17:47
Last modified: 28 Jan 2026 02:33
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Author:
Tierui Gong
Author:
Chau Yuen
Author:
Chong Meng Samson See
Author:
Merouane Debbah
Author:
Lajos Hanzo
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