A Photonic Quantum-Inspired Imager for Sub-Diffraction Space Debris Characterization

We are developing a Photonic Quantum-Inspired Imager (PQI2) for optical/infrared characterization of space debris below the diffraction limit. Space debris presents a serious threat to the future of space research and commercialization for the United States and the world at large. A crucial first step towards mitigating the threat posed by space debris is extreme resolution imaging to reveal the nature of space debris — including, the size, shape, composition, rotation, and time evolution of individual objects. A major constraint for implementing leading QI concepts is that they require a device to perform spatial mode multiplexing in an efficient and accurate manner. Our group has demonstrated exactly such a photonic spatial mode sorter quantum-sensing device in practice — a photonic lantern — with capabilities in both spatial and spectral diversity, as well as future extensions to polarization sensitivity. Over the past 5 years, our group has developed high-efficiency photonic lantern mode-sorting/multiplexing devices fabricated in optical fibers. Our proposed passive imaging system is therefore based on three main innovations: (i) photonic lantern spatial mode sorters with spatial and spectral diversity, (ii) atmospheric blur removal enabled by mode-/wavelength-resolution, (iii) transfer matrix and machine learning QI image reconstruction techniques. We will present a progress report on our effort to develop and demonstrate a working PQI2 instrument in 2023.