Radio Antennas

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Radio antennas are used in many everyday forms of technology including cell phones, and car radios. The shape of the antenna is in relation to the frequency received or transmitted by the antenna. Radio transmitters put out waves that the receivers pick up and transport the power to a tuner. According to MIT, "The electric field in a passing radio wave accelerates electrons inside these rods, converting energy from the wave into a tiny electrical current that can be amplified."
David Anderson along with other colleagues have created an antenna which uses lasers to create a more secure connection. The laser works by measuring the signals interaction with atoms. The technology uses Rydberg atoms which are excited. An atom being excited means that the energy of the electrons can be lowered by transferring them to different orbital shells. The scientists specifically use excited cesium atoms which have many shells causing the outer electrons to orbit far away from their nucleus. Radio waves are then used to move the electrons from shell to shell.  
The Rydberg atoms also become transparent by a laser of a specific frequency. The laser practically eliminates the gas's ability to take on light, which allows for another laser to shine through the atom. The frequency that this occurs at relates to the properties the Rydberg atoms have in the gas. After this process occurs, the levels of transparency of the gas show the radio waves in it.  A photodiode, sensitive to light, then uncovers to radio frequencies in the gas. 
The atomic radio is not phased by electromagnetic interferences that would affect traditional radio antennas.  The atomic radio has a lesser range than most typical radios. Scientists are working to improve the range of atomic radio antennas in the future.  If and when they can increase the range, the atomic radio would be more reliable in many forms of technology including cars and cell phones.  

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