Large baseline optical imaging assisted by single photons and linear quantum optics
arXiv:2212.08516 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.160801
Abstract
In this work, we show that by combining quantum metrology and networking tools, it is possible to extend the baseline of an interferometric optical telescope and thus improve diffraction-limited imaging of point source positions. The quantum interferometer is based on single-photon sources, linear optical circuits, and efficient photon number counters. Surprisingly, with thermal (stellar) sources of low photon number per mode and high transmission losses across the baseline, the detected photon probability distribution still retains a large amount of Fisher information about the source position, allowing for a significant improvement in the resolution of positioning point sources, on the order of 10 μas. Our proposal can be implemented with current technology. In particular, our proposal does not require experimental optical quantum memories.
arXiv comment9 pages, 6 figures Accepted in Phys. Rev. Lett
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- Direct and Efficient Detection of Quantum Superposition
- Quantum-enabled optical large-baseline interferometry: applications, protocols and feasibility
- Random Distillation Protocols in Long Baseline Telescopy
- Superresolution of unequal-brightness thermal sources for stellar interferometry
- Temperature dependence of a warm ensemble based memory on quantum communication rates