Imaging arbitrary incoherent source distributions with near quantum-limited resolution

Abstract

We demonstrate an approach to obtaining near quantum-limited far-field imaging resolution of incoherent sources with arbitrary distributions. Our method assumes no prior knowledge of the source distribution, but rather uses an adaptive approach to imaging via spatial mode demultiplexing that iteratively updates both the form of the spatial imaging modes and the estimate of the source distribution. The optimal imaging modes are determined by minimizing the estimated Cramér-Rao bound over the manifold of all possible sets of orthogonal imaging modes. We have observed through Monte Carlo simulations that the manifold-optimized spatial mode demultiplexing measurement consistently outperforms standard imaging techniques in the accuracy of source reconstructions and comes within a factor of 2 of the absolute quantum limit as set by the quantum Cramér-Rao bound. The adaptive framework presented here allows for a consistent approach to achieving near quantum-limited imaging resolution of arbitrarily distributed sources through spatial mode imaging techniques.

Breaking Rayleigh's curse for multi-parameter objects using BLESS technique

“…Moreover, it can be utilized in other problems like axial resolution of point sources [39,40], temporal [41] and spectral [42] resolution, etc. There are many ways for the further research: extending this approach to more complex objects [14,43], taking into account partial coherence of point sources [41,[44][45][46], and experimental imperfections like detector noise [47][48][49], making use of adaptive measurement strategies [50], etc. Particularly we should note, that photon statistics analysis may give additional information about point sources coherence and help to separate the signal radiation from the background.…”