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arXiv:2209.11117 · Physical Review Applied

Quantum Illumination with Multiplexed Photodetection

Hao Dong Yang, Nigam Samantaray, John Jeffers

Published Sep 9, 2022• 13 citations
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Abstract

The advantages of using quantum states of light for object detection are often highlighted in schemes that use simultaneous and optimal measurements. Here, we describe a theoretical but experimentally realizable quantum illumination scheme based on nonsimultaneous and nonoptimal measurements, which can maintain this advantage. In particular, we examine the multiclick-heralded two-mode-squeezed vacuum state as a probe signal in a quantum illumination process. The increase in conditioned signal intensity associated with multiclick heralding is greater than that from a single detector-heralded signal. Our results show, for lossy external conditions, the presence of the target object can be revealed earlier using multiclick measurements. We demonstrate this through sequential shot measurements based on Monte Carlo simulation.

DOI
10.1103/physrevapplied.18.034021

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The advantages of using quantum states of light for object detection are often highlighted in schemes that use simultaneous and optimal measurements. Here, we describe a theoretical but experimentally realizable quantum illumination scheme based on nonsimultaneous and nonoptimal measurements, which can maintain this advantage. In particular, we examine the multiclick-heralded two-mode-squeezed vacuum state as a probe signal in a quantum illumination process. The increase in conditioned signal intensity associated with multiclick heralding is greater than that from a single detector-heralded signal. Our results show, for lossy external conditions, the presence of the target object can be revealed earlier using multiclick measurements. We demonstrate this through sequential shot measurements based on Monte Carlo simulation.
The task of sensing the presence of a target object using a weak light source is challenging when the object is embedded in a noisy environment. One possibility is to use quantum illumination to do this, as it can outperform classical illumination in determining the object presence and range. This advantage persists even when both classical and quantum illumination are restricted to identical suboptimal object-detection measurements based on nonsimultaneous, phase-insensitive coincidence counts. Motivated by realistic experimental protocols, we present a theoretical framework for analyzing coincident multishot data with simple detectors. This approach allows for the often-overlooked noncoincidence data to be included, as well as providing a calibration-free threshold for inferring an object’s presence and range, enabling a fair comparison between different detection regimes. Our results quantify the advantage of quantum over classical illumination when performing target discrimination in a noisy thermal environment, including estimating the number of shots required to detect a target with a given confidence level. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Proofs of the quantum advantage available in imaging or detecting objects under quantum illumination can rely on optimal measurements without specifying what they are. We use the continuous-variable Gaussian quantum information formalism to show that quantum illumination is better for object detection compared with coherent states of the same mean photon number, even for simple direct photodetection. The advantage persists if signal energy and object reflectivity are low and background thermal noise is high. The advantage is even greater if we match signal beam detection probabilities rather than mean photon number. We perform all calculations with thermal states, even for non-Gaussian conditioned states with negative Wigner functions. We simulate repeated detection using a Monte-Carlo process that clearly shows the advantages obtainable.
Proofs of the quantum advantage available in imaging or detecting objects under quantum illumination can rely on optimal measurements without specifying what they are. We use the continuous-variable Gaussian quantum information formalism to show that quantum illumination is better for object detection compared with coherent states of the same mean photon number, even for simple direct photodetection. The advantage persists if signal energy and object reflectivity are low and background thermal noise is high. The advantage is even greater if we match signal beam detection probabilities rather than mean photon number. We perform all calculations with thermal states, even for non-Gaussian conditioned states with negative Wigner functions. We simulate repeated detection using a Monte-Carlo process that clearly shows the advantages obtainable.
Quantum illumination is a technique for detecting the presence of a target in a noisy environment by means of a quantum probe. We prove that the two-mode squeezed vacuum state is the optimal probe for quantum illumination in the scenario of asymmetric discrimination, where the goal is to minimize the decay rate of the probability of a false positive with a given probability of a false negative. Quantum illumination with two-mode squeezed vacuum states offers a 6 dB advantage in the error probability exponent compared to illumination with coherent states. Whether more advanced quantum illumination strategies may offer further improvements had been a longstanding open question. Our fundamental result proves that nothing can be gained by considering more exotic quantum states, such as, e.g., multimode entangled states. Our proof is based on a fundamental entropic inequality for the noisy quantum Gaussian attenuators. We also prove that without access to a quantum memory, the optimal probes for quantum illumination are the coherent states.
The use of quantum-mechanically entangled light to illuminate objects can provide substantial enhancements over unentangled light for detecting and imaging those objects in the presence of high levels of noise and loss. Each signal sent out is entangled with an ancilla, which is retained. Detection takes place via an entangling measurement on the returning signal together with the ancilla. This paper shows that for photodetection, quantum illumination with m bits of entanglement can in principle increase the effective signal-to-noise ratio by a factor of 2(m), an exponential improvement over unentangled illumination. The enhancement persists even when noise and loss are so great that no entanglement survives at the detector.