Sub-wavelength quantum imaging for astronomy and LIDAR detection

Abstract: The resolution limit of standard imaging techniques is expressed by the Rayleigh criterion, which states that two point-like sources are difficult to resolve if their transverse separation is smaller than the Rayleigh length. While the criterion is useful in the case of direct detection imaging, other measurement techniques may not be subject to this limitation. Here we consider the use of imaging to estimate the distance between an arbitrary number of incoherent point sources. In the regime of weak signals, a structured measurement obtained by concatenating a linear interferometer with on-off photo-detection is immune to the Rayleigh curse. In this way, we clarify the relationship between imaging and interferometry, and establish the optimality of linear interferometry for an arbitrary number of incoherent sources. We apply these techniques to LIDAR detection as well as exoplanet detection, finding optimal measurements for both these tasks.

quantum computing and information

Audience: researchers in the topic

Comments: HOSTED BY: Dr Peter Rohde, Centre for Quantum Software and Information, University of Technology Sydney

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Centre for Quantum Software and Information Seminar Series

Series comments: To request the zoom link, please send a message to: cqsiadmin@uts.edu.au using your business/organisation/institution email address. Watch previous seminars on YouTube: - QSI Seminar Series 2021 (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLux7B14QYkPbDDOpqKSWScHXHodiBwr48) - QSI Seminar Series 2020 (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLux7B14QYkPZREUXReOq01ewLl02QXBXa)

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