© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

Terms Privacy Legal Notice

arXiv:2209.00431 · Physical Review A

Quantum holography with single-photon states

Denis Abramović, Nazif Demoli, Mario Stipčević, Hrvoje Skenderović

Published Jul 20, 2023• 9 citations

Abstract

The retrieval of the phase with single-photon states is a fundamentally and technically challenging endeavor. Here we report an experimental realization of hologram recordings with heralded single-photon illumination and continuous observation of photon statistics. Thereby, we demonstrate the basic principle of holography with single-photon states which cannot be described with the classical wave theory. Under conditions with illumination more than 200 times weaker than the noise of the detector, a hologram (interferogram) recorded with a heralded single-photon source revealed an object not visible with nonheralded illumination and slightly higher intensity. The dramatic improvement in retrieval of amplitude and phase information achieved with the heralded single-photon source can be explained by the strong suppression of noise due to the nonclassical temporal correlation between twin photons and the small coincidence time window. The method could be useful for recording and retrieving amplitude and phase information in the presence of strong noise, for covert imaging, and for imaging of photosensitive biological and material samples.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.108.013709

Related papers

Quantum Holography with Heralded Single-Photon Source

Denis Abramović, Nazif Demoli, Mario Stipčević +1 more

Quantum imaging usually refers to imaging that takes advantage of quantum entanglement to obtain results beyond the classically achievable limits [1]. Various complex experimental setups are used to obtain quantum images, and even more complex experimental setups are used when the goal is to record and retrieve the phase information of the object. Classical holography offers the possibility to record and retrieve phase information from a hologram [2]. However, in low-light conditions, a major challenge is to record images with a high signal-to-noise ratio. Classical schemes [3]–[5], of course, do not aim to demonstrate the quantum properties of the experiments, and quantum schemes [6]–[8] rely on complex preparation of the light beam and do not necessarily provide an advantage for holographic imaging. To date, no simple quantum scheme with quantum advantage has been developed for low-light holographic imaging.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•Jun 26, 2023•0 citations

Quantum holography enhanced by object-uncorrelated photons

Yiqian Yang, Zhixiang Li, Zhengzhong Huang +4 more

Quantum holography exploits quantum correlation in entangled photon pairs to enhance holography. An inherent principle of holography is that each partial hologram can enhance the reconstruction of the entire object, a property that has not yet been explored in the quantum realm. The current fabrication technology for single-photon detectors is limited, making it extremely challenging to manufacture large-area detectors. Since resolution is directly related to the system aperture, achieving a resolution equivalent to that of a large-area detector under the constraint of a limited detection area is a key challenge for realizing high-resolution quantum holography. Here we demonstrate that the spatial correlations of entangled photons can extract crucial additional information from photon wave packets beyond the boundaries of the experimentally recorded region, where the photons have no direct interaction with the object. We validate the approach experimentally and benchmark it against the approach using only the detection area, achieving the advancements with an increase of up to 15 dB in signal-to-noise ratio and up to approximately tenfold improvement in structural similarity. We show the versatility of the approach by demonstrating significantly improved performance across various objects, including quantum holography of complex biological specimens. This work can advance the nascent field of quantum holography and accelerate its application in life sciences and biological systems.

Physical Review Applied•Nov 10, 2025•4 citations

Quantum holography with undetected photons

Marta Gilaberte Basset, Sebastian Töpfer, Jorge Fuenzalida +3 more

Holography is a versatile tool in optical sensing and imaging. We report on a quantum holography approach that allows to record holograms on the single photon level without recording the photons illuminating the object.

Quantum Information and Measurement (QIM)•Jan 1, 2021•0 citations

Noise resilient real-time phase imaging via undetected light

Josué Ricardo León-Torres, Patrick Hendra, Yugant Mukeshbhai Hadiyal +5 more

Quantum imaging with undetected light has recently emerged as a technique in which quantum correlations and nonlinear interferometry are combined to decouple illumination and detection paths. This approach has been more recently extended and combined with digital phase-shifting holography and off-axis holography to extract both the amplitude and phase information of a sample relying on single-photon interference. Despite these advantages, implementing the technique in real-world scenarios where the observed system is subject to environmental noise and dynamic variations remains challenging. The primary limitation lies in the inability of quantum imaging systems to retrieve object information in real time under high-noise conditions. Here, we experimentally demonstrate real-time amplitude and phase imaging in noisy environments, building upon our previous implementation of quantum off-axis holography. Our results demonstrate real-time imaging at acquisition rates up to 4~Hz, even when the noise level exceeds the signal by an order of magnitude.

arXiv:2512.24993•Dec 31, 2025•0 citations

One-photon and two-photon quantum holography with bi-photon states of large spatial dimensionality

F. Devaux, Gnatiessoro Soro, A. Mosset +2 more

We report results of quantum holography (QH) where spatial informations stored in phase holograms are retrieved by measuring spatial coincidences between two images formed by spatially entangled twin photons of high-dimensionality. For the two setup configurations reported here, spatial informations are retrieved when holograms are read either with both photons or with one photon of the bi-photon states.

•Dec 9, 2019•0 citations

Quantum holography with twin photons of large spatial dimensionality

F. Devaux, A. Mosset, Florent Bassignot +1 more

We report results of quantum holography where spatial information stored in phase hologram is retrieved by measuring spatial coincidences between two images formed by spatially entangled twin photons of high-dimensionality transmitted by the hologram.

Imaging and Applied Optics•Jan 1, 2019•0 citations

The retrieval of the phase with single-photon states is a fundamentally and technically challenging endeavor. Here we report an experimental realization of hologram recordings with heralded single-photon illumination and continuous observation of photon statistics. Thereby, we demonstrate the basic principle of holography with single-photon states which cannot be described with the classical wave theory. Under conditions with illumination more than 200 times weaker than the noise of the detector, a hologram (interferogram) recorded with a heralded single-photon source revealed an object not visible with nonheralded illumination and slightly higher intensity. The dramatic improvement in retrieval of amplitude and phase information achieved with the heralded single-photon source can be explained by the strong suppression of noise due to the nonclassical temporal correlation between twin photons and the small coincidence time window. The method could be useful for recording and retrieving amplitude and phase information in the presence of strong noise, for covert imaging, and for imaging of photosensitive biological and material samples.

Quantum imaging usually refers to imaging that takes advantage of quantum entanglement to obtain results beyond the classically achievable limits [1]. Various complex experimental setups are used to obtain quantum images, and even more complex experimental setups are used when the goal is to record and retrieve the phase information of the object. Classical holography offers the possibility to record and retrieve phase information from a hologram [2]. However, in low-light conditions, a major challenge is to record images with a high signal-to-noise ratio. Classical schemes [3]–[5], of course, do not aim to demonstrate the quantum properties of the experiments, and quantum schemes [6]–[8] rely on complex preparation of the light beam and do not necessarily provide an advantage for holographic imaging. To date, no simple quantum scheme with quantum advantage has been developed for low-light holographic imaging.

Quantum holography exploits quantum correlation in entangled photon pairs to enhance holography. An inherent principle of holography is that each partial hologram can enhance the reconstruction of the entire object, a property that has not yet been explored in the quantum realm. The current fabrication technology for single-photon detectors is limited, making it extremely challenging to manufacture large-area detectors. Since resolution is directly related to the system aperture, achieving a resolution equivalent to that of a large-area detector under the constraint of a limited detection area is a key challenge for realizing high-resolution quantum holography. Here we demonstrate that the spatial correlations of entangled photons can extract crucial additional information from photon wave packets beyond the boundaries of the experimentally recorded region, where the photons have no direct interaction with the object. We validate the approach experimentally and benchmark it against the approach using only the detection area, achieving the advancements with an increase of up to 15 dB in signal-to-noise ratio and up to approximately tenfold improvement in structural similarity. We show the versatility of the approach by demonstrating significantly improved performance across various objects, including quantum holography of complex biological specimens. This work can advance the nascent field of quantum holography and accelerate its application in life sciences and biological systems.

Quantum imaging with undetected light has recently emerged as a technique in which quantum correlations and nonlinear interferometry are combined to decouple illumination and detection paths. This approach has been more recently extended and combined with digital phase-shifting holography and off-axis holography to extract both the amplitude and phase information of a sample relying on single-photon interference. Despite these advantages, implementing the technique in real-world scenarios where the observed system is subject to environmental noise and dynamic variations remains challenging. The primary limitation lies in the inability of quantum imaging systems to retrieve object information in real time under high-noise conditions. Here, we experimentally demonstrate real-time amplitude and phase imaging in noisy environments, building upon our previous implementation of quantum off-axis holography. Our results demonstrate real-time imaging at acquisition rates up to 4~Hz, even when the noise level exceeds the signal by an order of magnitude.