Beating classical imaging limits with entangled photons

Padgett, M. , Toninelli, E., Gregory, T. and Moreau, P.-A. (2019) Beating classical imaging limits with entangled photons. In: SPIE OPTO 2019, San Francisco, CA, USA, 02-07 Feb 2019, 109341R. (doi: 10.1117/12.2515497)

Abstract

How can quantum mechanics deliver better imaging performance? Parametric down-conversion sources produce pairs of photons that are correlated in many degrees of freedom, including their spatial positions. By using a camera to detect these pairs of photons it is possible configure imaging systems that can either beat the classical resolution limit or the classical noise limit. We demonstrate how a simple down-conversion source based on a laser and non-linear crystal can be combined with an EMCCD camera to achieve either of these outcomes. Firstly, when both photons pass through the sample, we show a full-field, resolution-enhancing scheme, based on the centroid estimation of the photon pairs. By optimising the software control of the EMCCD camera running in the photon-sparse regime we achieve a resolution enhancement over the equivalent classical limit. Secondly, we show a similar scheme but where only one of the two photons pass through the sample and the other acts as a reference, in this case the ratio of the two resulting images eliminates the background noise of the camera, and background light, achieving an increase in image contrast.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Padgett, Professor Miles and Moreau, Dr Paul-Antoine and Gregory, Dr Thomas and Toninelli, Mr Ermes
• Authors: Padgett, M., Toninelli, E., Gregory, T., and Moreau, P.-A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• ISSN: 0277-786X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 SPIE
• First Published: First published in Proceedings of SPIE 10934:109341R
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher