Imaging and Optical Processing with Entangled Photons

纠缠光子成像和光学处理

• 批准号: 9970657
• 负责人: Bahaa Saleh
• 金额: $ 30万
• 依托单位: Trustees of Boston University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1999
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1999-05-01 至 2003-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9970657&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Imaging; Optical; Processing; Entangled; Photons

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.***

9970657 Saleh提出使用非经典纠缠光来研究和开发一种全新的光学成像方法。利用激光泵浦的非线性光学晶体的自发参数下转换过程很容易产生纠缠光束，其中包括高度关联的纠缠光子对。在此之前，我们研究了这种光束本质上的非经典性质，并用它们进行了高精度的计量。我们建议研究这一在很大程度上尚未开发的光学领域在新的物体成像和分析应用方面的潜力。所提出的成像配置包括对纠缠光子的时空检测。这是利用现成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方便地执行的。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。每条路径都是根据其光纤单独配置的。这种方法的优势在于两个光子对的强空间和时间相关性--对纠缠光子对中的一个成员进行的测量迅速反映在与其伙伴光子的关联测量中。作为这种系统的不寻常性质的一个例子，该特征允许将光学元件插入其中一个光子的路径中，当评估为符合时，该光子将在未改变的伙伴的路径中显现。因此，一条路径可以包含样品对象，而另一条路径可以包含光学元件，例如透镜和光圈，以操纵图像。例如，这在生物成像中很有用。其中将相当大的光学元件插入到照射样品的光路中并不总是可行的。此外，人们可以用一个光学波长照明物体，而用不同的波长照明光学元件，从而允许独特的双波长成像配置。此外，这种结构可以扩展到包括宽带下转换光，从而产生关联光子多光谱成像的可能性。我们已经进行了支持其中一些概念的初步实验，并提出了实验和理论研究或几种形式的纠缠光子成像。我们将阐明纠缠光成像的统一原理和内在限制，如灵敏度和分辨率。光学传递函数的表达式将使用关于图像检测时间和入射到样品上的光子通量的现实假设来推导。将进行实验来评估作为成像系统一部分的单光子敏感型增强型电荷耦合器件相机。在此之后，将研究几种实验配置，特别是如上所述的单波长配置的演示和性能评估，以及可能的双波长配置。我们的总体目标是确定一种高度新颖和有用的纠缠光子成像系统的优点并展示其操作，该系统适用于物理和生物科学中的各种应用。