Imaging and Optical Processing with Entangled Photons

提出了使用非经典纠缠光来研究和发展一种全新的光学成像方法。激光泵浦非线性光学晶体的自发参量下转换过程容易产生由高度相关的纠缠光子对组成的纠缠光束。以前，我们研究了这种光束的内在非经典性质，并使用它们进行高精度计量。我们建议研究这一很大程度上未开发的光学领域的潜力，用于新的物体成像和分析应用。所提出的成像配置涉及纠缠光子的时空检测。这是方便地执行，随时可用的单光子敏感电荷耦合器件相机和雪崩光电二极管探测器。在纠缠光子成像中，每个纠缠光子对的成员被分成两个独立的光路。每条路径根据其光学器件单独配置。这种方法的优点在于对纠缠光子对的强空间和时间相关性-对纠缠光子对的一个成员进行的测量迅速反映在与其伙伴光子的相关测量中。作为这类系统不寻常特性的一个例子，这个特性允许在其中一个光子的路径中插入一个光学元件，当评估一致性时，它会在未改变的伙伴的路径中表现出来。因此，一条路径可以包含样本对象，而另一条路径可以包含光学元件，如透镜和光圈，以操纵图像。例如，这在生物成像中很有用。在照明样品的光路中插入相当大的光学元件并不总是可行的。此外，人们可以用一个光学波长照射物体，同时用不同的波长照射光学元件，从而允许独特的双波长成像配置。此外，这种配置可以扩展到包括宽带下转换光，产生相关光子多光谱成像的可能性。我们已经进行了初步实验，支持其中一些概念的特征。提出了几种形式的纠缠光子成像的实验和理论研究。阐明了纠缠光成像的统一原理和固有局限性，如灵敏度和分辨率。光学传递函数的表达式将使用实际的假设关于图像检测时间和入射到样品上的光子通量推导。实验将进行评估单光子敏感强化电荷耦合器件相机，这是成像系统的一部分。在此之后，将研究几种实验安排，特别是如上所述的单波长和可能的双波长配置的演示和性能评估。我们的总体目标是建立一个高度新颖和有用的纠缠光子成像系统的优点，并演示其操作，该系统适用于物理和生物科学的各种应用

9970657SalehThe use of nonclassical entangled light is proposed for the investigation and development of a fundamentally new approach to optical imaging. The process of spontaneous parametric downconversion using a laser-pumped nonlinear optical crystal readily creates entangled-light beams, which comprise highly correlated entangled-photon pairs. Previously, we examined the intrinsically nonclassical nature of such beams and we used them to carry out high-accuracy metrology. We propose to examine the potential of this largely untapped area of optics for novel object imaging and analysis applications.The proposed imaging configurations involve the spatiotemporal detection of the entangled photons. which is conveniently performed with readily available single-photon-sensitive charge-coupled-device cameras and avalanche-photodiode detectors. In entangled-photon imaging, the members of each entangled-photon pair are split into two separate optical paths. Each path is individually configured in terms of its optics. The strength of this approach resides in the strong space and time correlations of the pairs - measurements performed on one member of an entangled-photon pair are rapidly reflected in correlation measurements with its partner photon. As an example of the unusual properties of such systems, this feature permits the insertion of an optical element into the path of one of the photons to be manifested in the unaltered partner's path when evaluated in coincidence. Thus, one path can contain the sample object while the other path can contain optical elements such as lenses and apertures to manipulate the image. This can be useful in biological imaging, for example. where it is not always feasible to insert sizable optical elements into the optical path illuminating the sample. Moreover, one can illuminate an object with one optical wavelength while illuminating the optical elements with a different wavelength, thus permitting a unique dual-wavelength-imaging configuration. Furthermore, this configuration can be extended to include broadband downconver-ted light, yielding correlated-photon multi-spectral imaging possibilities. We have carried out preliminary experiments supporting the features of some of these notions.Experimental and theoretical investigations or several forms of entangled-photon imaging are proposed. Unifying principles and intrinsic limitations, such as the sensitivity and resolution, of imaging with entangled light will be elucidated. An expression for the optical transfer function will be derived using realistic assumptions regarding the image detection time and photon flux incident on the sample. Experiments will be conducted to assess the single-photon-sensitive intensified charge-coupled-device camera, which is part of the imaging system. Following this, several experimental arrangements will be investigated, particularly the demonstration and performance evaluation of single-wavelength, and possibly dual-wavelength configurations, as indicated above. Our overall goal is to establish the merits of, and demonstrate the operation of, a highly novel and useful entangled-photon imaging system suitable for a variety of applications in the physical and biological sciences.***