Imaging through noise with quantum illumination

Gregory, T., Moreau, P.-A. , Toninelli, E. and Padgett, M. J. (2020) Imaging through noise with quantum illumination. Science Advances, 6(6), eaay2652. (doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aay2652) (PMID:32083179) (PMCID:PMC7007263)

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Abstract

The contrast of an image can be degraded by the presence of background light and sensor noise. To overcome this degradation, quantum illumination protocols have been theorized that exploit the spatial correlations between photon pairs. Here, we demonstrate the first full-field imaging system using quantum illumination by an enhanced detection protocol. With our current technology, we achieve a rejection of background and stray light of up to 5.8 and also report an image contrast improvement up to a factor of 11, which is resilient to both environmental noise and transmission losses. The quantum illumination protocol differs from usual quantum schemes in that the advantage is maintained even in the presence of noise and loss. Our approach may enable laboratory-based quantum imaging to be applied to real-world applications where the suppression of background light and noise is important, such as imaging under low photon flux and quantum LIDAR.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Padgett, Professor Miles and Moreau, Dr Paul-Antoine and Gregory, Dr Thomas and Toninelli, Ermes
Authors: Gregory, T., Moreau, P.-A., Toninelli, E., and Padgett, M. J.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Science Advances
Publisher:American Association for the Advancement of Science
ISSN:2375-2548
ISSN (Online):2375-2548
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 The Authors,
First Published:First published in Science Advances 6(6):eaay2652
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons license
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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
190841UK Quantum Technology Hub in Enhanced Quantum ImagingMiles PadgettEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/M01326X/1P&S - Physics & Astronomy
169636Twists and more: the complex shape of lightMiles PadgettEuropean Research Council (ERC)340507P&S - Physics & Astronomy
172865EPSRC DTP 16/17 and 17/18Tania GalabovaEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/N509668/1Research and Innovation Services
173293IMAGITMiles PadgettEuropean Commission (EC)706410P&S - Physics & Astronomy
303289Quantum technologies in high dimensionPaul-Antoine MoreauLeverhulme Trust (LEVERHUL)ECF-2018-634P&S - Physics & Astronomy
190828EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sensing and MeasurementAndrew HarveyEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/L016753/1P&S - Physics & Astronomy