Resolution limit in quantum imaging with undetected photons using position correlations

Abstract

Quantum imaging with undetected photons (QIUP) is a unique method of image acquisition where the photons illuminating the object are not detected. This method relies on quantum interference and spatial correlations between the twin photons to form an image. Here we present a detailed study of the resolution limits of position correlation enabled QIUP. We establish a quantitative relation between the spatial resolution and the twin-photon position correlation. Furthermore, we also quantitatively establish the roles that the wavelength of the undetected illumination field and the wavelength of the detected field play in the resolution. Like ghost imaging and unlike conventional imaging, the resolution limit imposed by the spatial correlation between the twin photons in QIUP cannot be further improved by conventional optical techniques.

Quantum Sensing with Extreme Light

“…The resolution limit for the near field configuration depends on the sum of the wavelengths of signal and idler instead of their ratio. [167] Further research on the imaging properties depending on the idler wavelength has been done and shown that the resolution becomes worse as the idler wavelength increases as the number of spatial modes available for imaging is reduced. [165] The theoretical description of quantum spectroscopy and similar schemes is based on the same principle as quantum imaging which is the indistinguishability of paths.…”

Fundamental resolution limit of quantum imaging with undetected photons

“…For the case of identical sources with L = L A = L B , as found in Refs. [21,22], then d min ∝ [L(λ S + λ I )]…”

“…(A3) and the electric field operator at the camera, see Eq. (21). To reach the expression of R in Eqs.…”

“…Consequently, it is of great interest to investigate twocolor quantum imaging configurations to determine the exact role of both wavelengths in the resolution. Although several works have discussed the resolution of quantum imaging [7,13,[17][18][19][20][21][22], they have treated this question only within the paraxial regime. This fits very well with most experiments relying on commercially available nonlinear crystals.…”

Subdiffraction Quantum Imaging with Undetected Photons

“…We use the term "far-field" in contrast to "near-field", where nearfield interactions can involve evanescent modes and are usually only effective within wavelength-range distances [13]. Hence, resolution of far-field QIUP will be constrained by the diffraction limit [4,[14][15][16]. For the case where the probing wavelength λ I is larger than the detection wavelength λ S , object's information is transferred by propagating idler fields and consequently the transverse spatial resolution in this information is constrained by the idler diffraction limit [14].…”