Experimental realization of sub-shot-noise quantum imaging
Abstract
The properties of quantum states have led to the development of new technologies, ranging from quantum information to quantum metrology. A recent field of research to emerge is quantum imaging, which aims to overcome the limits of classical imaging by making use of the spatial properties of quantum states of light . In particular, quantum correlations between twin beams represent a fundamental resource for these studies. One of the most interesting proposed schemes takes advantage of the spatial quantum correlations between parametric down-conversion light beams to realize sub-shot-noise imaging of weak absorbing objects, leading ideally to noise-free imaging. Here, we present the first experimental realization of this scheme, showing its potential to achieve a larger signal-to-noise ratio than classical imaging methods. This work represents the starting point for this quantum technology, which we anticipate will have applications when there is a requirement for low-photon-flux illumination (for example for use with biological samples).
- Publication:
-
Nature Photonics
- Pub Date:
- April 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1038/nphoton.2010.29
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1004.1274
- Bibcode:
- 2010NaPho...4..227B
- Keywords:
-
- Quantum Physics
- E-Print:
- Nature Photonics 4, 227 - 230 (2010).