Broadband frequency hopping by Rydberg atoms with high orbital angular momentum states

Communication technologies advance toward secure communication, with frequency hopping communication (FH-C) widely used. However, traditional FH-C is limited by slow hopping speed, narrow bandwidth, and a few hopping points. Rydberg atoms offer a solution but face challenges like poor non-resonant microwave sensitivity and local oscillator synchronization limits. Here, we propose a frequency-hopping receiver based on atomic heterodyne detection that employs high orbital angular momentum (high-OAM) Rydberg states for resonant detection of rapidly hopping radio-frequency signals across multiple, widely separated frequency bands. The high-OAM Rydberg atoms ( l =3,4,5) resonantly detect 315 MHz, 1.7 GHz, and 29.74 GHz RF hopping signals (spanning 6 octaves). With heterodyne detection and a continuous excitation scheme, the system eliminates spectral establishment time, achieving 60 khops/s without transmitter-receiver synchronization, and uses frequency combs to extend hopping points to 5 MHz around resonant frequencies. These advances demonstrate the potential of Rydberg-atom–based receivers for high-speed and wide-band frequency-hopping communication.