We present an advanced quantum ghost imaging (QGI) setup that enables low-noise, three-dimensional imaging and ranging of distant objects. A key technical innovation is asynchronous detection by independent single photon detectors, which significantly simplifies existing setups and allows imaging at arbitrary distances. Recent experimental results demonstrate low-noise imaging and efficient object ranging. An important quantum advantage with regard to secure active sensing is indistinguishability from background noise for external parties.
Quantum Ghost Imaging (QGI) is a scheme using entangled pairs of photons (signal and idler) in order to perform imaging with both single photons and with only a single-element detector in the spectrum of interest. It utilises the temporal coincidence of the photons to identify associated pairs, while their spatial correlation allows to obtain image information from of the idler photon from the measurement of the signal photon. It is especially useful when using nondegenerate photon pairs, allowing to keep the signal photon in the silicon detection window, while the interacting wavelength can be freely chosen.However, current schemes are limited, as they rely on time-gating and heralding. Recent advances in single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) allow the design of new single photon cameras, which can be outfitted with dedicated in-pixel timing circuitry. This allows to register single photons in both time and space. These detectors allowed us to design a new scheme for QGI, in which the coincidence is evaluated after the measurement. It also allows us to perform depth-resolved 3D imaging based on the time-of-flight of photons, first results of which are presented here.
Quantum Ghost Imaging (QGI) is a scheme which uses the temporal correlation of entangled photon pairs (signal and idler) to identify detections belonging to actual entangled pairs and separate them from uncorrelated detections. By also exploiting the spatial correlation of the photon pair, this identification allows to extract image information of the idler photons by imaging the signal photons. This can even be done for non-degenerate photon pairs, allowing imaging at wavelengths without sophisticated cameras in this regime. Recent advances in detector technology, especially single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), allow the design for new cameras capable of single photon detection with both high spatial and temporal resolution. These new detectors are especially useful for application in QGI, allowing to detect each photon individually and identify the correlated pairs after the measurement. It further allows to analyse the time-of-flight of photons and thus enables 3D imaging, the first realization of which will be presented here.
We investigate a novel quantum based active imaging system for remote sensing that has inherent resistance to hostile detection and jamming. It is an advanced quantum ghost imaging setup, which does not rely on preliminary information on the distances of objects. The photon source of the setup will be suited for standoff detection with illumination of remote objects in the infrared, while retrieving the spatial information in the visible regime with matured silicon technology. Due to inherent randomness of illumination patterns in space and time only the observer is able to distinguish illumination photons from ambient background noise by position- and time-correlation of entangled partner photons.
We propose an advanced quantum ghost imaging setup for remote sensing applications, which does not rely on preliminary information on the distances of objects and investigate the quantum benefits of this setup for remote sensing applications. The photon source of the setup will be suited for standoff detection with illumination of remote objects in the infrared, while retrieving the spatial information in the visible regime with matured silicon technology. The setup utilizes single photon avalanche detectors with integrated time to digital converters for detection of both photons to capture the full 3D information of an unknown scene and is suited for imaging over large distances, without the necessity of an optical delay line
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