Lost photon enhances superresolution
Abstract Quantum imaging can beat classical resolution limits, imposed by the diffraction of light. In particular, it is known that one can reduce the image blurring and increase the achievable resolution by illuminating an object by entangled light and measuring coincidences of photons. If an n-pho...
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doaj-cbdd7d654c054052aa8fb531ce3db04f2021-08-15T11:17:26ZengNature Publishing Groupnpj Quantum Information2056-63872021-08-017111010.1038/s41534-021-00465-4Lost photon enhances superresolutionA. B. Mikhalychev0P. I. Novik1I. L. Karuseichyk2D. A. Lyakhov3D. L. Michels4D. S. Mogilevtsev5B.I.Stepanov Institute of Physics, NAS of BelarusB.I.Stepanov Institute of Physics, NAS of BelarusB.I.Stepanov Institute of Physics, NAS of BelarusComputer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering Division, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyComputer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering Division, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyB.I.Stepanov Institute of Physics, NAS of BelarusAbstract Quantum imaging can beat classical resolution limits, imposed by the diffraction of light. In particular, it is known that one can reduce the image blurring and increase the achievable resolution by illuminating an object by entangled light and measuring coincidences of photons. If an n-photon entangled state is used and the nth-order correlation function is measured, the point-spread function (PSF) effectively becomes $$\sqrt{n}$$ n times narrower relatively to classical coherent imaging. Quite surprisingly, measuring n-photon correlations is not the best choice if an n-photon entangled state is available. We show that for measuring (n − 1)-photon coincidences (thus, ignoring one of the available photons), PSF can be made even narrower. This observation paves a way for a strong conditional resolution enhancement by registering one of the photons outside the imaging area. We analyze the conditions necessary for the resolution increase and propose a practical scheme, suitable for observation and exploitation of the effect.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-021-00465-4 |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
A. B. Mikhalychev P. I. Novik I. L. Karuseichyk D. A. Lyakhov D. L. Michels D. S. Mogilevtsev |
spellingShingle |
A. B. Mikhalychev P. I. Novik I. L. Karuseichyk D. A. Lyakhov D. L. Michels D. S. Mogilevtsev Lost photon enhances superresolution npj Quantum Information |
author_facet |
A. B. Mikhalychev P. I. Novik I. L. Karuseichyk D. A. Lyakhov D. L. Michels D. S. Mogilevtsev |
author_sort |
A. B. Mikhalychev |
title |
Lost photon enhances superresolution |
title_short |
Lost photon enhances superresolution |
title_full |
Lost photon enhances superresolution |
title_fullStr |
Lost photon enhances superresolution |
title_full_unstemmed |
Lost photon enhances superresolution |
title_sort |
lost photon enhances superresolution |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
series |
npj Quantum Information |
issn |
2056-6387 |
publishDate |
2021-08-01 |
description |
Abstract Quantum imaging can beat classical resolution limits, imposed by the diffraction of light. In particular, it is known that one can reduce the image blurring and increase the achievable resolution by illuminating an object by entangled light and measuring coincidences of photons. If an n-photon entangled state is used and the nth-order correlation function is measured, the point-spread function (PSF) effectively becomes $$\sqrt{n}$$ n times narrower relatively to classical coherent imaging. Quite surprisingly, measuring n-photon correlations is not the best choice if an n-photon entangled state is available. We show that for measuring (n − 1)-photon coincidences (thus, ignoring one of the available photons), PSF can be made even narrower. This observation paves a way for a strong conditional resolution enhancement by registering one of the photons outside the imaging area. We analyze the conditions necessary for the resolution increase and propose a practical scheme, suitable for observation and exploitation of the effect. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-021-00465-4 |
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