Low-frequency vector electrometry with a Rydberg dipolar chain

Low-frequency electric field sensors are essential for applications in geophysics, electrical engineering, aerospace, and medical technology. However, conventional technologies often suffer from intrinsic trade-offs among traceability, multidimensional vector detection, and miniaturization, which significantly hinder their scalability and deployment in compact platforms. To address these challenges, we propose a vector-resolved quasi-static electric field sensor based on a Rydberg dipolar chain, where the external field reorients the atomic quantization axis and thereby modulates the angle-dependent dipolar exchange interaction. Using a unified framework combining time-domain propagation, Ramsey-mode spectroscopy, and end-to-end Green’s-function analysis, we identify three complementary observables—arrival time, eigenmode frequency shifts, and transmission fringes—that encode both the amplitude and direction of the applied field. The approach operates at micrometer scales compatible with optical-tweezer arrays, offers tunable sensitivity near the magic angle, and provides multi-channel readout within a single platform. Our results establish a compact and experimentally feasible route toward high-resolution, vector-sensitive low-frequency electrometry with the potential for quantum-enhanced performance.