QuSeC-TAQS: Distributed Entangled Quantum-Enhanced Interferometric Imaging for Telescopy and Metrology

无线电频率天文观测分辨率的提高使科学家能够制作黑洞事件视界的第一张图像和类星体的详细图像，正如事件视界望远镜（EHT）合作所展示的那样，为宇宙中一些最令人困惑的物体的结构和动力学提供了新的见解。然而，天文物体的许多特征只能在电磁波谱的可见光范围内观察到。可见光区分辨率的提高将加速对系外行星的搜索及其大气层的研究，使近红外黑洞视界的分辨率成像成为可能，并促进太阳以外行星形成盘和恒星表面的成像。望远镜分辨率的基本限制是由检测到的电磁辐射的波长与收集孔径的直径之比决定的，从而推动了制造大口径望远镜的努力。通过将在远距离孔径处收集的场聚集在一起并对其进行干涉，可以将望远镜的有效孔径尺寸增加到孔径之间的距离。EHT利用了一个遍布地球的射电望远镜网络，距离大约为数千公里，目前对可见光波段是不可行的。该项目旨在通过对天文物体进行第一次量子成像，发展可见波长的扩展基线干涉测量法。目标是率先开发具有量子增强性能的实用天文干涉仪。最近的理论建议表明，通过干扰来自天文源的收集光，使远距离望远镜之间分布的光的纠缠态能够实现经典手段不可能实现的有效孔径尺寸。该项目中的概念验证实验将验证量子成像系统的基本操作原理，该系统最终可以扩大规模，以证明量子优于传统系统，为更大规模的实施提供有价值的见解。该项目的理论工作主要集中在模拟现实实验，开发基准测试工具和指标，用于比较量子和经典传感策略，以及扩展量子协议。模拟天文源的桌面实验将用于验证量子和经典性能的理论界限，并演示天文源的首次量子干涉成像。该项目汇集了来自天文学，电气工程，物理学和量子信息科学的跨学科专家团队，他们将共同努力，对天文物体进行首次量子成像。从长远来看，最大的回报将是开发具有量子增强性能的实用天文干涉仪，为可观测的宇宙打开一扇新的窗口。短期成果将是对分布式量子光学传感的更深入理解，这可能适用于各种场景。此外，该项目期间开发的方法将适用于天文学以外的广泛应用。例如，在望远镜孔径之间分布纠缠与量子网络、分布式量子计算和量子通信高度相关。该项目支持对学生进行多学科合作培训，扩大和发展量子信息科学课程，并开展公共宣传活动，鼓励年轻人和少数民族探索科学和技术。 该项目由美国国家科学基金会量子系统变革性进展的量子传感挑战（QuSeC-TAQS）计划、物理学部和天文科学部资助。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Improved resolution in astronomical observations at radio frequencies has enabled scientists to make the first images of black hole event horizons and detailed images of quasars, as demonstrated by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, providing new insights into the structure and dynamics of some of the most puzzling objects in the universe. However, many features of astronomical objects can only be observed in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Improved resolution in the visible regime would accelerate the search for exoplanets and the study of their atmospheres, enable resolved imaging of black hole event horizons in the near-infrared, and facilitate imaging of planet-forming disks and stellar surfaces beyond the Sun. The fundamental limit to the resolution of a telescope is set by the ratio of the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation detected and the diameter of the collection aperture, thus driving efforts to make large aperture telescopes. By bringing together the fields collected at distant apertures and interfering them, one can increase the effective aperture size of a telescope to the distance between the apertures. The EHT utilized a network of radio telescopes across the Earth, with separations on the order of thousands of kilometers, currently infeasible for visible wavelengths. This project aims to develop extended baseline interferometry in visible wavelengths by performing the first quantum-enabled imaging of astronomical objects. The goal is to pioneer the development of practical astronomical interferometers with quantum-enhanced performance. Recent theoretical proposals have shown that by interfering collected light from astronomical sources with entangled states of light distributed between distant telescopes can enable effective aperture sizes not possible with classical means. Proof-of-concept experiments in this project will verify the basic operating principles of a quantum-enabled imaging system that can ultimately be scaled up to demonstrate a quantum advantage over conventional systems, providing valuable insights for a larger-scale implementation. Theoretical work in this project is focused on modeling realistic experiments, developing benchmarking tools and metrics for comparing quantum and classical sensing strategies, and extending quantum protocols. Tabletop experiments with simulated astronomical sources will be used to verify theoretical bounds of quantum and classical performance, and demonstrate the first quantum-enabled interferometric imaging of astronomical sources. This project brings together an interdisciplinary team of experts from astronomy, electrical engineering, physics and quantum information science who will work convergently to perform the first quantum-enabled imaging of astronomical objects. The largest payoff in the long term would be the development of practical astronomical interferometers with quantum-enhanced performance opening a new window on the observable universe. Shorter-term outcomes will be a deeper understanding of distributed quantum optical sensing, which may be applicable in diverse scenarios. Moreover, the methods developed during the project will be applicable to a broad range of applications beyond astronomy. For example, distributing entanglement between the telescope apertures is highly relevant to quantum networking, distributed quantum computing, and quantum communications. This project supports the training of students in a multidisciplinary collaboration, the expansion and development of courses in quantum information science, and public outreach activities to encourage young people and minorities to explore science and technology. This project is funded by the NSF Quantum Sensing Challenges for Transformative Advances in Quantum Systems (QuSeC-TAQS) program, the Division of Physics, and the Division of Astronomical Sciences.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.