Nano-scale imaging with Hong-Ou-Mandel Interferometry

使用红欧曼德尔干涉仪进行纳米级成像

• 批准号: EP/R030081/1
• 负责人: Daniele Faccio
• 金额: $ 53.95万
• 依托单位: University of Glasgow
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2018 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FR030081%2F1
• 关键词: Nano; scale; imaging; Hong; Ou

This project is targeted at establishing the fundamental limits of quantum interferometry, with particular emphasis on the specific and widespread Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interferometer. We will show that quantum HOM interferometry enables extremely precise depth and thickness measurements in an optical microscope. We then propose to use this approach to build a non-invasive optical imaging system that will provide sub-nanometer precision, improving upon the state-of-the-art by three orders of magnitude. To achieve our goal, we will combine customised quantum optical interference with new advanced statistical analysis tools. We will also integrate the latest ultra-sensitive single-photon detector array sensors into the imaging system to provide unprecedented sensitivity and temporal resolution. This interdisciplinary research brings together experimental and theoretical physicists to develop the optical systems, sources and underlying models, and biologists as end users of the technology.Our research relies on quantum interference of indistinguishable single photons, known as Hong-Ou-Mandel interference, which can give very precise information about the thickness of an unknown sample. The principle works by using two identical photons, which are produced at exactly the same time. If one of the photons is delayed with respect to the other due to transmission through a sample of unknown thickness, the properties of the sample can be established by detailed analysis of the interference pattern when the two photons are brought back together. Furthermore, the precise form of the interference pattern, and consequently the precision of the measurement, can be controlled by customising the spectral properties of the single photons. Generally, this method provides high temporal precision with a large dynamic range, yet does not suffer from phase instability between the two photons. While this phenomenon has been known for many years, the tools to reach its fundamental limits have not yet been developed. To reach the boundaries of this optical method, we will develop custom photon sources to provide tailored quantum interference patterns and develop new analysis procedures based on the Fisher information associated with the data. The Fisher information is a statistical approach for assessing how much information about an unknown parameter is available in measured data. In any physical system, one builds a model that includes a number of parameters, and in our imaging system, the thickness of the sample will be the key quantity that we wish to establish. Small changes to the thickness of the sample will result in small changes to the observed data and by analysing the Fisher information, we will be able to reach the ultimate precision provided by information theory. We predict this ultimate limit to be sub-nanometer in precision.In the final stages of the project, we will also measure a series of biological samples. Accurately establishing cell, protein, and DNA morphology is vital for determining the performance of biological systems. It is well known that the structural form of DNA plays a crucial role in its functionality. DNA can be prepared in various forms and can take the shape of strands or more convoluted structures, such as for example DNA origami. The DNA strands therefore occupy different volumes and thicknesses at the nanometer level. After metrology of defined 'ground truth' DNA origami structures, we will extend our study to that of chromatin structures in vitro.

该项目旨在建立量子干涉测量的基本极限，特别强调特定和广泛的Hong-Ou-Mandel（HOM）干涉仪。我们将表明，量子HOM干涉法，使非常精确的深度和厚度测量在光学显微镜。然后，我们建议使用这种方法来建立一个非侵入性的光学成像系统，将提供亚纳米精度，提高了三个数量级的最先进的。为了实现我们的目标，我们将把联合收割机定制的量子光学干涉与新的先进统计分析工具结合起来。我们还将最新的超灵敏单光子探测器阵列传感器集成到成像系统中，以提供前所未有的灵敏度和时间分辨率。这项跨学科研究汇集了实验物理学家和理论物理学家来开发光学系统、光源和底层模型，并将生物学家作为该技术的最终用户。我们的研究依赖于不可区分的单光子的量子干涉，称为Hong-Ou-Mandel干涉，它可以提供关于未知样品厚度的非常精确的信息。该原理通过使用两个完全相同的光子来工作，这两个光子是在完全相同的时间产生的。如果其中一个光子由于穿过未知厚度的样品而相对于另一个光子延迟，则当两个光子被带回到一起时，可以通过对干涉图案的详细分析来确定样品的性质。此外，可以通过定制单光子的光谱特性来控制干涉图案的精确形式，从而控制测量的精度。通常，该方法提供了具有大动态范围的高时间精度，但不会遭受两个光子之间的相位不稳定性。虽然这种现象已被发现多年，但尚未开发出达到其基本极限的工具。为了达到这种光学方法的界限，我们将开发定制的光子源，以提供定制的量子干涉图案，并根据与数据相关的Fisher信息开发新的分析程序。Fisher信息是一种统计方法，用于评估测量数据中关于未知参数的信息量。在任何物理系统中，都要建立一个包含多个参数的模型，而在我们的成像系统中，样品的厚度将是我们希望建立的关键参数。样品厚度的微小变化将导致观测数据的微小变化，通过分析Fisher信息，我们将能够达到信息论提供的最终精度。我们预计这个极限的精度将达到亚纳米。在项目的最后阶段，我们还将测量一系列生物样本。准确建立细胞、蛋白质和DNA形态对于确定生物系统的性能至关重要。众所周知，DNA的结构形式在其功能中起着至关重要的作用。DNA可以以各种形式制备，并且可以采取链或更复杂结构的形状，例如DNA折纸。因此，DNA链在纳米水平上占据不同的体积和厚度。经过计量学定义的“地面真相”DNA折纸结构，我们将扩展我们的研究，染色质结构在体外。

项目成果

Manipulation and Certification of High-Dimensional Entanglement through a Scattering Medium

通过散射介质操纵和验证高维纠缠

• DOI: 10.1103/prxquantum.4.010308
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: PRX Quantum
• 影响因子: 9.7
• 作者: Courme B

Polarization entanglement-enabled quantum holography

• DOI: 10.1038/s41567-020-01156-1
• 发表时间: 2021-02-04
• 期刊: NATURE PHYSICS
• 影响因子: 19.6
• 作者: Defienne, Hugo;Ndagano, Bienvenu;Faccio, Daniele
• 通讯作者: Faccio, Daniele

Arbitrary spatial mode sorting in a multimode fiber

• DOI: 10.1103/physreva.101.063830
• 发表时间: 2020-04
• 期刊: Physical Review A
• 影响因子: 2.9
• 作者: H. Defienne;D. Faccio

Pixel super-resolution with spatially entangled photons.

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31052-6
• 发表时间: 2022-06-22
• 期刊: Nature communications
• 影响因子: 16.6

Full-field quantum imaging with a single-photon avalanche diode camera

• DOI: 10.1103/physreva.103.042608
• 发表时间: 2021-04-13
• 期刊: PHYSICAL REVIEW A
• 影响因子: 2.9
• 作者: Defienne, Hugo;Zhao, Jiuxuan;Faccio, Daniele
• 通讯作者: Faccio, Daniele