We propose a technique to obtain sub-wavelength resolution in quantum imaging with potentially 100% contrast using incoherent light. Our method requires neither path-entangled number states nor multi-photon absorption. The scheme makes use of N photons spontaneously emitted by N atoms and registered by N detectors. It is shown that for coincident detection at particular detector positions a resolution of λ/ N can be achieved.
The Fourier-Transform ghost imaging of both amplitude-only and pure-phase objects was experimentally observed with classical incoherent light at Fresnel distance by a new lensless scheme. The experimental results are in good agreement with the standard Fourier-transform of the corresponding objects. This scheme provides a new route towards aberration-free diffraction-limited 3D images with classically incoherent thermal light, which have no resolution and depth-of-field limitations of lens-based tomographic systems.
Entangled-photon coincidence imaging is a method to nonlocally image an object by transmitting a pair of entangled photons through the object and a reference optical system, respectively. The image of the object can be extracted from the coincidence rate of these two photons. From a classical perspective, the image is proportional to the fourth-order correlation function of the wave field. Using classical statistical optics, we study a particular aspect of coincidence imaging with incoherent sources. As an application, we give a proposal to realize lensless Fourier-transform imaging, and discu…
We investigate experimentally fundamental properties of coherent ghost imaging using spatially incoherent beams generated from a pseudo-thermal source. A complementarity between the coherence of the beams and the correlation between them is demonstrated by showing a complementarity between ghost diffraction and ordinary diffraction patterns. In order for the ghost imaging scheme to work it is therefore crucial to have incoherent beams. The visibility of the information is shown for the ghost image to become better as the object size relative to the speckle size is decreased, and therefore a re…
We solve the general problem of determining, through imaging, the three-dimensional positions of $N$ weak incoherent point-like emitters in an arbitrary spatial configuration. We show that a structured measurement strategy in which a linear interferometer feeds into an array of photo-detectors is always optimal for this estimation problem, in the sense that it saturates the quantum Cramér-Rao bound. We provide a method for the explicit construction of the optimal interferometer. Further explicit results for the quantum Fisher information and the optimal interferometer design that attains it ar…
Incoherent Imaging with Spatially Structured Quantum Probes
Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science, NIST/University of Maryland（量子信息与计算联合中心，美国国家标准与技术研究院/马里兰大学）；Joint Quantum Institute, NIST/University of Maryland（量子信息联合研究所，美国国家标准与技术研究院/马里兰大学）；Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland（马里兰大学电气与计算机工程系）
By using the ghost imaging technique, we experimentally demonstrate the reconstruction of the diffraction pattern of a {\em pure phase} object by using the classical correlation of incoherent thermal light split on a beam splitter. The results once again underline that entanglement is not a necessary feature of ghost imaging. The light we use is spatially highly incoherent with respect to the object ($\approx 2 μ$m speckle size) and is produced by a pseudo-thermal source relying on the principle of near-field scattering. We show that in these conditions no information on the phase object can b…
We investigate the collective interaction of a multi-atom three-level ladder system with an environmental incoherent reservoir. The exact solution of the master equation that describes such a system of atoms emitting distinguishable or indistinguishable photons on interaction with an incoherent reservoir is obtained. The quantum decay interference effects have no influences over steady-state distribution of population among the energy levels. However, the photon statistics of the collectively emitted photons are different in this case. In particular, the normalized second-order photon correlat…
We investigate steady-state properties of a two-dimensional incoherent-pumped dissipative Bose-Hubbard model, which describes a photon square lattice. This incoherent pumping exhibits an important environment-induced higher-order fluctuation effect, which induces a strong competition between the driven-dissipative channel, the photon-photon interaction, and the photon hopping in multi-photon processes. This new competition gives rise to a spontaneous breaking of the U(1) symmetry of system. As a result, we predict a many-body steady-state localized-delocalized phase transition and an anti-bloc…
Time resolution at the quantum limit of two incoherent sources based on frequency resolved two-photon-interference
University of Portsmouth（朴茨茅斯大学）；School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Portsmouth（朴茨茅斯大学数学与物理学院）；Quantum Science and Technology Hub, University of Portsmouth（朴茨茅斯大学量子科学与技术中心）；Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, University of Portsmouth（朴茨茅斯大学宇宙学与引力研究所）
I propose a superoscillation measurement method for subdiffraction incoherent optical sources, with potential applications in astronomy, remote sensing, fluorescence microscopy, and spectroscopy. The proposal, based on coherent optical processing, can capture all the light on the aperture in principle, perform better than direct imaging on statistical terms, and approach the fundamental quantum limit.
Attaining Fundamental Limits of Multiparameter Incoherent Optical Imaging Using Joint-Detection Quantum Measurements
Wyant College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona（亚利桑那大学怀特光学科学学院）；Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford（牛津大学克拉伦登实验室）；Physical Sciences and Systems, Raytheon BBN（雷神BBN物理科学与系统部门）；Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland（马里兰大学电气与计算机工程系）
Established x-ray diffraction methods allow for high-resolution structure determination of crystals, crystallized protein structures or even single molecules. While these techniques rely on coherent scattering, incoherent processes like Compton scattering or fluorescence emission -- often the predominant scattering mechanisms -- are generally considered detrimental for imaging applications. Here we show that intensity correlations of incoherently scattered x-ray radiation can be used to image the full 3D structure of the scattering atoms with significantly higher resolution compared to convent…
I point out the mathematical correspondence between an incoherent imaging model proposed by my group in the study of quantum-inspired superresolution [Tsang, Nair, and Lu, Physical Review X 6, 031033 (2016)] and a noise spectroscopy model also proposed by us [Tsang and Nair, Physical Review A 86, 042115 (2012); Ng et al., Physical Review A 93, 042121 (2016)]. Both can be regarded as random displacement models, where the probability measure for the random displacement depends on unknown parameters. The spatial-mode demultiplexing (SPADE) method proposed for imaging is analogous to the spectral …
In this work, we consider an environment formed by incoherent photons as a resource for controlling open quantum systems via an incoherent control. We exploit a coherent control in the Hamiltonian and an incoherent control in the dissipator which induces the time-dependent decoherence rates $γ_k(t)$ (via time-dependent spectral density of incoherent photons) for generation of single-qubit gates for a two-level open quantum system which evolves according to the Gorini-Kossakowski-Sudarshan-Lindblad (GKSL) master equation with time-dependent coefficients determined by these coherent and incohere…
We show that the dynamical Casimir effect in an optomechanical system can be achieved under incoherent mechanical pumping. We adopt a fully quantum-mechanical approach for both the cavity field and the oscillating mirror. The dynamics is then evaluated using a recently-developed master equation approach in the dressed picture, including both zero and finite temperature photonic reservoirs. This analysis shows that the dynamical Casimir effect can be observed even when the mean value of the mechanical displacement is zero. This opens up new possibilities for the experimental observation of this…
We report the experimental realization of entanglement localization which restores polarization entanglement completely redirected after a linear coupling with incoherent and noisy surrounding photon. The method, based only on measurements of the surrounding photon after the coupling and on post-selection, can localize the entanglement back to original systems for any linear coupling.
The application of quantum estimation theory to the problem of imaging two incoherent point sources has recently led to new insights and better measurements for incoherent imaging and spectroscopy. To establish a more general limit beyond the case of two sources, here I evaluate a quantum bound on the Fisher information that can be extracted by any far-field optical measurement about the moments of a subdiffraction object. The bound matches the performance of a spatial-mode-demultiplexing (SPADE) measurement scheme in terms of its scaling with the object size, indicating that SPADE is close to…
In a previous paper [M. Tsang, Phys. Rev. A 99, 012305 (2019)], I proposed a quantum limit to the estimation of object moments in subdiffraction incoherent optical imaging. In this sequel, I prove the quantum limit rigorously by infinite-dimensional analysis. A key to the proof is the choice of an unfavorable parametric submodel to give a bound for the semiparametric problem. By generalizing the quantum limit for a larger class of moments, I also prove that the measurement method of spatial-mode demultiplexing (SPADE) with just one or two modes is able to achieve the quantum limit. For compari…
I propose a spatial-mode demultiplexing (SPADE) measurement scheme for the far-field imaging of spatially incoherent optical sources. For any object too small to be resolved by direct imaging under the diffraction limit, I show that SPADE can estimate its second or higher moments much more precisely than direct imaging can fundamentally do in the presence of photon shot noise. I also prove that SPADE can approach the optimal precision allowed by quantum mechanics in estimating the location and scale parameters of a subdiffraction object. Realizable with far-field linear optics and photon count…
We analyze the impact of both an incoherent and a coherent continuous excitation on our proposal to generate a two-photon state from a quantum dot in a microcavity [New J. Phys. 13, 113014 (2011)]. A comparison between exact numerical results and analytical formulas provides the conditions to efficiently generate indistinguishable and simultaneous pairs of photons under both types of excitation.
The theory of semiparametric estimation offers an elegant way of computing the Cramér-Rao bound for a parameter of interest in the midst of infinitely many nuisance parameters. Here I apply the theory to the problem of moment estimation for incoherent imaging under the effects of diffraction and photon shot noise. Using a Hilbert-space formalism designed for Poisson processes, I derive exact semiparametric Cramér-Rao bounds and efficient estimators for both direct imaging and a quantum-inspired measurement method called spatial-mode demultiplexing (SPADE). The results establish the superiority…
With the progress of optical detection technology, the classical diffraction limit raised a hundred years ago has been continuously broken through. In previous experiments within fluorescence sources, one of the techniques used is detecting auto-correlation functions. The image is reconstructed by single-photon and multi-photon detecting intensities. By taking the joint intensity of more than one single-photon detectors into consideration, the point spread function of each photon emitter can be resolved even when the distance of their central position is below the classical diffraction limit. …
I propose classical and quantum limits to the statistical resolution of two incoherent optical point sources from the perspective of minimax parameter estimation. Unlike earlier results based on the Cramér-Rao bound, the limits proposed here, based on the worst-case error criterion and a Bayesian version of the Cramér-Rao bound, are valid for any biased or unbiased estimator and obey photon-number scalings that are consistent with the behaviors of actual estimators. These results prove that, from the minimax perspective, the spatial-mode demultiplexing (SPADE) measurement scheme recently propo…
The advent of accelerator-driven free-electron lasers (FEL) has opened new avenues for high-resolution structure determination via diffraction methods that go far beyond conventional x-ray crystallography methods. These techniques rely on coherent scattering processes that require the maintenance of first-order coherence of the radiation field throughout the imaging procedure. Here we show that higher-order degrees of coherence, displayed in the intensity correlations of incoherently scattered x-rays from an FEL, can be used to image two-dimensional objects with a spatial resolution close to o…
We establish the multiparameter quantum Cramér-Rao bound for simultaneously estimating the centroid, the separation, and the relative intensities of two incoherent optical point sources using alinear imaging system. For equally bright sources, the Cramér-Rao bound is independent of the source separation, which confirms that the Rayleigh resolution limit is just an artifact of the conventional direct imaging and can be overcome with an adequate strategy. For the general case of unequally bright sources, the amount of information one can gain about the separation falls to zero, but we show that …
Most optical quantum devices require deterministic single-photon emitters. Schemes so far demonstrated in the solid state imply an energy relaxation which tends to spoil the coherent nature of the time evolution, and with it the photon indistinguishability. We focus our theoretical investigation on semiconductor quantum dots embedded in microcavities. Simple and general relations are identified between the photon indistinguishability and the collection efficiency. The identification of the key parameters and of their interplay provides clear indications for the device optimization.
We demonstrate that incoherent photon scattering by a Bose-Einstein condensate of non-ideal atomic gas is enhanced due to bosonic stimulation of spontaneous emission, similarly to coherent scattering in forward direction. Necessary initial population of non-condensate states is provided by quantum depletion of a condensate caused by interatomic repulsion.
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 simulati…
We report a theoretical study of a quantum optical model consisting of an array of strongly nonlinear cavities incoherently pumped by an ensemble of population-inverted two-level atoms. Projective methods are used to eliminate the atomic dynamics and write a generalized master equation for the photonic degrees of freedom only, where the frequency-dependence of gain introduces non-Markovian features. In the simplest single cavity configuration, this pumping scheme gives novel optical bistability effects and allows for the selective generation of Fock states with a well-defined photon number. Fo…
We present a method to separate coherent and incoherent contributions of cathodoluminescence (CL) by using a time-resolved coincidence detection scheme. For a proof-of-concept experiment, we generate CL by irradiating an optical multimode fiber with relativistic electrons in a transmission electron microscope. A temporal analysis of the CL reveals a large peak in coincidence counts for small time delays, also known as photon bunching. Additional measurements allow us to attribute the bunching peak to the temporal correlations of coherent CL (Cherenkov radiation) created by individual electrons…
We study the polarization dependent second order correlation of a pair of photons emitted in a four level radiative cascade driven by an external field. It is found that the quantum correlations of the emitted photons, degraded by the energy splitting of the intermediate levels in the radiative cascade can be efficiently revived by a far detuned external field. The physics of this revival is linked to an induced stark shift and the formation of dressed states in the system by the non-resonant external field. Further, we investigated the competition between the effect of the coherent external f…
Pumping a nonlinear crystal by an intense radiation results in the optical parametric generation of photons in two modes (the signal and the idler). The quantized electromagnetic field in these modes is described by a continuous-variable quantum state, which is entangled if the pump is a coherent state produced by a laser. The signal and the idler modes remain populated by photons even if the pump becomes incoherent (dephased by a medium, superposed with a thermal state, or produced by an alternative source such as the superluminescent diode). However, the incoherent pump does effect the entan…
Controlling the photon statistics of light is paramount for quantum science and technologies. Recently, we demonstrated that transmitting resonant laser light past an ensemble of two-level emitters can result in a stream of single photons or excess photon pairs. This transformation is due to quantum interference between the transmitted and incoherently scattered two-photon component. Here, using the dispersion of the atomic medium, we actively control the relative quantum phase between these two components. We thereby realize a tunable two-photon interferometer and observe interference fringes…
An arbitrary initial state of an optical or microwave field in a lossy driven nonlinear cavity can be changed, in the steady-state limit, into a partially incoherent superposition of only the vacuum and the single-photon states. This effect is known as single-photon blockade, which is usually analyzed for a Kerr-type nonlinear cavity parametrically driven by a single-photon process assuming single-photon loss mechanisms. We study photon blockade engineering via a squeezed reservoir, i.e., a quantum reservoir, where only two-photon absorption is allowed. Namely, we analyze a lossy nonlinear cav…
We investigate statistics of the photon (phonon) field undergoing linear and nonlinear damping processes. An effective two-photon (phonon) nonlinear "cooling by heating" process is realized from linear damping by spectral filtering of the heat baths present in the system. This cooling process driven by incoherent quantum thermal noise can create quantum states of the photon field. In fact, for high temperatures of the spectrally filtered heat baths, sub-Poissonian statistics with strong antibunching in the photon (phonon) field are reported. This notion of the emergence and control of quantumn…
Recently, Chen \em et al\rm.\ [New J. Phys. {\bf 13} (2011) 083018] presented experimental results, accompanied by quantum-mechanical analysis, showing that the quantum interference behavior of Bell states could be simulated in a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer whose inputs are pseudothermal light beams obtained by passing laser light through a rotating ground-glass diffuser. Their experiments and their theory presumed low-flux operation in which the simulated quantum interference is observed via photon-coincidence counting. We first show that the Chen \em et al\rm.\ photon-coincidence co…
We analyze electronically excited nuclear wave functions and their coherence when subjecting a molecule to the action of natural, pulsed incoherent solar-like light, and to that of ultrashort coherent light assumed to have the same center frequencies and spectral bandwidths. Specifically, we compute the spatio-temporal dependence of the excited wave packets and their electronic coherence for these two types of light sources, on different electronic potential energy surfaces. The resultant excited state wave functions are shown to be qualitatively different, reflecting the light source from whi…
Recently, Chen \em et al \rm.\ [Phys. Rev. A 84, 033835 (2011)] reported observation of anticorrelated photon coincidences in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer whose input light came from a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser that had been rendered spatially incoherent by passage through a rotating ground-glass diffuser. They provided a quantum-mechanical explanation of their results, which ascribes the anticorrelation to two-photon interference. They also developed a classical-light treatment of the experiment, and showed that it was incapable of explaining the anticorrelation behavior. Here we show th…
Quantum cascaded systems offer the possibility to manipulate a target system with the quantum state of a source system. Here, we study in detail the differences between a direct quantum cascade and coherent/incoherent driving for the case of two coupled cavity-QED systems. We discuss qualitative differences between these excitations scenarios, which are particular strong for higher-order photon-photon correlations: $g^{(n)}(0)$ with $ n>2 $. Quantum cascaded systems show a behavior differing from the idealized cases of individual coherent/incoherent driving and allow to produce qualitatively d…
We demonstrate experimentally and theoretically that a coherent image of a pure phase object may be obtained by use of a spatially incoherent illumination beam. This is accomplished by employing a two-beam source of entangled photons generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion. Though each of the beams is, in and of itself, spatially incoherent, the pair of beams exhibits higher-order inter-beam coherence. One of the beams probes the phase object while the other is scanned. The image is recorded by measuring the photon coincidence rate using a photon-counting detector in each beam. Usi…
Entangled photons produced by spontaneous parametric down-conversion have been of paramount importance for our current understanding of quantum mechanics and advances in quantum information. In this process, the quantum correlations of the down-converted photons are governed by the optical properties of the pump beam illuminating the non-linear crystal. Extensively, the pump beam has been modeled by either coherent beams or by the well-know Gaussian-Schell model, which leads to the natural conclusion that a high degree of optical coherence is required for the generation of highly entangled sta…
