Ultra-broadband anti-jamming communication via a Rydberg atomic receiver

Ultra-broadband anti-jamming communication can support secure information transfer through spread-spectrum techniques that resist interference and interception. Waveguide-coupled Rydberg atoms enable ultra-broadband spectrum sensing without conventional RF front-end components. This framework provides an experimental platform for ultra-wide anti-jamming communication. Here we demonstrate real-time signal demodulation based on frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) in a waveguide-coupled Rydberg receiver, achieving frequency hopping across 100 kHz to 20 GHz and a maximum hopping rate of 100 khop/s. Within the 2.4 GHz ISM band, our system achieves a channel density of ~ 8 channels per MHz. Beyond this, by leveraging its ultra-broad and continuous bandwidth, the system supports over 150,000 channels. Experimental results show a 51 dB improvement in narrowband interference tolerance compared with single-frequency systems, confirming its strong anti-jamming capability. The reported system demonstrates potential for secure communications based on quantum technology, particularly in complex electromagnetic environments. Conventional anti-jamming technologies such as frequency hopping spread spectrum often present complex implementations, motivating new approaches. Here, the authors demonstrate a Rydberg-atom-based receiver capable of ultra-wideband frequency hopping communication.