Quantum imaging has emerged as a promising field with significant advantages compared to classical protocols. In a recent report published in Science Advances, Jorge Fuenzalida and his team in Germany showcased a groundbreaking method that can make quantum imaging resilient to noise. By introducing an imaging-distilled approach based on interferometric modulation, they were able to generate high-quality images of objects, even in the presence of extreme noise levels surpassing the actual signal of interest. This breakthrough in undetected light could pave the way for quantum-based light detection and ranging (LIDAR) systems and open up new possibilities for quantum imaging in various scenarios.
One of the key challenges in quantum imaging is dealing with noise, which can be introduced by the environment into a quantum system. Fuenzalida and his team demonstrated how quantum imaging can be made resilient to noise through distillation or purification processes. By removing the decoherence introduced by the environment, they were able to obtain high-quality images of objects, even in the presence of significant noise levels. This resilience to noise is particularly crucial in practical applications where noise is inevitable.
The team introduced and experimentally verified a quantum imaging distillation method that detects single photons only. This method, known as quantum imaging with undetected light (QIUL), utilizes a two-photon wide-field interferometric imaging approach. In this process, one photon illuminates the object of interest, while its partner photon is detected on the camera. Interestingly, the photon illuminating the object remains undetected. This unique method allows for the discovery and probing of samples without directly detecting the light that interacts with the object.
To demonstrate the resilience of quantum imaging distillation to noise, the team introduced a source of noise into the imaging scheme. Surprisingly, they found that the method exhibited good performance even for noise intensities exceeding 250 times the quantum signal intensity. By distilling the image through quantum holography with undetected light (QHUL), they were able to remove the unwanted noise signal superimposed on the quantum image. The team showed that as long as the intensity difference of the distillation method is larger than the intensity variance of the noise, a high-quality quantum image can be obtained.
To generate photon pairs for quantum imaging, the team utilized spontaneous parametric down-conversion mediated by the interaction of an intense pump beam with nonlinear crystals. They implemented an experimental setup using a nonlinear interferometer in a Michelson configuration and pumped a crystal with a continuous wave laser. Through a series of mirrors and dichroic mirrors, they separated the signal, idler, and pump beams in the forward propagation direction.
The experimental results showed an interference pattern of signal photons captured by the camera. This interference pattern carried the object information obtained by the idler photon. By introducing controlled noise into the system and varying the properties of classical illumination, intensity, and variance, the team examined the effects of noise on the distillation performance. The experimental behavior aligned well with theoretical predictions and demonstrated the effectiveness of the quantum imaging distillation method.
Fuenzalida and his colleagues went further to explore the limits of the method through simulations of quantum holography under extreme noise scenarios. This investigation demonstrated the robustness and scalability of the quantum imaging distillation method, offering insights into the potential applications of undetected light in quantum-based LIDAR systems. The ability to obtain high-quality images even in the presence of significant noise opens up new possibilities for quantum imaging in a wide range of practical scenarios.
The resilience of quantum imaging distillation to noise represents a significant breakthrough in the field of quantum imaging. Fuenzalida and his team have demonstrated that by utilizing undetected light and employing quantum holography techniques, high-quality images of objects can be obtained even in the presence of extreme noise. This capability has the potential to revolutionize various applications, including quantum-based LIDAR systems and beyond. The future of quantum imaging looks promising with the advancements made in the exploration of undetected light and its resilience to noise.
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