Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2401.17836 · Physical Review Applied

Broadband biphoton source for quantum optical coherence tomography based on a Michelson interferometer

Konstantin G. Katamadze, Anna Romanova, Denis Chupakhin, Alexander Pashchenko, S. P. Kulik

Published Jan 30, 2025• 4 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Broadband correlated photon pairs (biphotons) are valuable in quantum metrology, but current generation methods either involve complex nonlinear structures or lack sufficient bandwidth and brightness. In this work, we theoretically describe and experimentally demonstrate an alternative technique for generation of a bright collinear biphoton field with a broad spectrum, achieved by using a tightly focused pump in a bulk nonlinear crystal. As the most straightforward application of the source, we employ Michelson interferometer-based quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT). Utilizing the source enables the demonstration of record resolution and dispersion cancellation for this QOCT scheme.

DOI
10.1103/physrevapplied.23.014076

Related papers

Generation of broadband spontaneous parametric fluorescence and its application to quantum optical coherence tomography

Masayuki Okano, Ryo Okamoto, Akira Tanaka +4 more

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) based on Michelson interferometer has widely been utilized in biology and medicine as a type of optical biopsy and quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT) based on Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer has recently been demonstrated. By use of quantum entangled photon pairs generated via spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) process, axial resolution of QOCT can be better than that of OCT in principle for a source of same bandwidth and group velocity dispersion (GVD) effect for QOCT can be automatically cancelled thanks to the frequency correlation of entangled photon pairs. To realize high-resolution QOCT, we need a broadband quantum entangled photon pair source. Then we proposed a novel conventional method to generate broadband spontaneous parametric fluorescence via SPDC by using multiple nonlinear crystals pumped by a CW laser. Our method has controllability to tune the center frequency of generated photons and scalability to extend the number of crystals. This conventional method can enable us to achieve sub-micron axial resolution of QOCT.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Sep 1, 2011•0 citations

Cross-correlation scheme for quantum optical coherence tomography based on Michelson interferometer

Anna Romanova, Vadim Rodimin, Konstantin Katamadze

Quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT) offers a simple way to cancel dispersion broadening in a sample while also providing twice the resolution compared to classical OCT. However, to achieve these advantages, a bright and broadband source of entangled photon pairs is required. A simple implementation uses collinear spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a Michelson interferometer (MI), yet this autocorrelation scheme suffers from parasitic terms and sensitivity to phase noise. Here, we introduce a cross-correlation MI-based QOCT that overcomes these drawbacks, significantly advancing QOCT toward practical applications.

arXiv:2505.08095•Physical Review Applied•Nov 24, 2025•1 citation

Quantum-optical coherence tomography with collinear entangled photons

Dorilian Lopez-Mago, Lukáš Novotný

Quantum-optical coherence tomography (QOCT) combines the principles of classical OCT with the correlation properties of entangled photon pairs [Phys. Rev. A 65, 053817 (2002)]. The standard QOCT configuration is based on the Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer, which uses entangled photons propagating in separate interferometer arms. This noncollinear configuration imposes practical limitations, e.g., misalignment due to drift and low signal-to-noise. Here, we introduce and implement QOCT based on collinear entangled photons. It makes use of a two-photon Michelson interferometer and offers several advantages, such as simplicity, robustness, and adaptability.

Optics Letters•Sep 25, 2012•35 citations

Multi-reflection quantum-optical coherence tomography and experimental mimic with the classical optical field

Qian Li, Yifan Sun, Ling‐Jun Kong +1 more

Quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT) is the non-classical counterpart of optical coherence tomography (OCT), by which quantum interference of entangled photon pairs is used to show some advantages over classical OCT. Currently, almost all research on the QOCT focuses on the case with two photons and a twofold improvement in axial resolution has been demonstrated. Here, we introduce the multiple reflections strategy into the QOCT scheme, referencing the multi-pass strategy of the sequential scheme in quantum metrology, and provide a theoretical framework for multi-reflection quantum-optical coherence tomography (MQOCT). According to such a scheme, when the incident light interacts with the sample N times, the axial resolution of MQOCT is theoretically enhanced by a factor of N compared to that of QOCT under the same spectral bandwidth while preserving the dispersion cancellation capability of QOCT. Furthermore, we present a classical optical analogy of MQOCT using P -beam correlated multi-mode broadband beams and experimentally validate it. The classical optical analogy of MQOCT theoretically has the same resolution enhancement capability and dispersion cancellation capability as MQOCT while avoiding the fragility issues associated with the quantum light source which is used in MQOCT.

Optics Express•Feb 13, 2025•0 citations

Post‐Selection Scheme for Quantum Optical Coherence Tomography With Multimode Coherent State

Qian Li, Rong Wang, Jianning Han

ABSTRACT Quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT) has received significant attention due to its immunity to even‐order dispersion and its ability to double the resolution compared to conventional optical coherence tomography (OCT). However, QOCT typically relies on nonlinear processes to generate frequency‐correlated photon pairs as a probe state. The high‐power pump laser requirement poses a major barrier to practical implementations of QOCT. In this paper, we propose the substitution of spectrally correlated photon pairs in QOCT with the weak multimode coherent state as the input source. Through integration with post‐selective spectral‐domain measurement techniques, we demonstrate that our scheme preserves the advantages of QOCT, including even‐order dispersion cancellation and a two‐fold increase in resolution. The key advantage of our scheme is its removal of the requirement for nonlinear‐process‐generated spectrally correlated photon pairs as the light source. This advancement is particularly beneficial for practical applications of QOCT.

Advanced Quantum Technologies•Jul 1, 2026•0 citations

Ultrahigh-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography Using Quantum Entangled Photon Pairs

Masayuki Okano, Ryo Okamoto, Shigeki Takeuchi

Quantum technologies harness the intrinsic nature of quantum physics to beat limitations of classical methods. Recently, the application of quantum entanglement to metrology has attracted much attention. Quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT) using two-photon interference between entangled photon pairs can overcome certain problems with classical optical coherence tomography (OCT). As the resolution of OCT becomes higher, degradation of the resolution due to dispersion becomes more critical. Here we show our work on the realization of 0.54 μm resolution two-photon interference, which surpasses the current record resolution 0.75 μm for OCT. In addition, the resolution for QOCT showed almost no change even when a 1-mm-thick water was inserted in the path of the interferometer. The results presented here represent a breakthrough for the realization of ultrahigh-resolution quantum metrology. Our work will open up possibilities for medical and biological applications.

The Review of Laser Engineering•Jan 1, 2016•0 citations
Broadband correlated photon pairs (biphotons) are valuable in quantum metrology, but current generation methods either involve complex nonlinear structures or lack sufficient bandwidth and brightness. In this work, we theoretically describe and experimentally demonstrate an alternative technique for generation of a bright collinear biphoton field with a broad spectrum, achieved by using a tightly focused pump in a bulk nonlinear crystal. As the most straightforward application of the source, we employ Michelson interferometer-based quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT). Utilizing the source enables the demonstration of record resolution and dispersion cancellation for this QOCT scheme.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) based on Michelson interferometer has widely been utilized in biology and medicine as a type of optical biopsy and quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT) based on Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer has recently been demonstrated. By use of quantum entangled photon pairs generated via spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) process, axial resolution of QOCT can be better than that of OCT in principle for a source of same bandwidth and group velocity dispersion (GVD) effect for QOCT can be automatically cancelled thanks to the frequency correlation of entangled photon pairs. To realize high-resolution QOCT, we need a broadband quantum entangled photon pair source. Then we proposed a novel conventional method to generate broadband spontaneous parametric fluorescence via SPDC by using multiple nonlinear crystals pumped by a CW laser. Our method has controllability to tune the center frequency of generated photons and scalability to extend the number of crystals. This conventional method can enable us to achieve sub-micron axial resolution of QOCT.
Quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT) offers a simple way to cancel dispersion broadening in a sample while also providing twice the resolution compared to classical OCT. However, to achieve these advantages, a bright and broadband source of entangled photon pairs is required. A simple implementation uses collinear spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a Michelson interferometer (MI), yet this autocorrelation scheme suffers from parasitic terms and sensitivity to phase noise. Here, we introduce a cross-correlation MI-based QOCT that overcomes these drawbacks, significantly advancing QOCT toward practical applications.
Quantum-optical coherence tomography (QOCT) combines the principles of classical OCT with the correlation properties of entangled photon pairs [Phys. Rev. A 65, 053817 (2002)]. The standard QOCT configuration is based on the Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer, which uses entangled photons propagating in separate interferometer arms. This noncollinear configuration imposes practical limitations, e.g., misalignment due to drift and low signal-to-noise. Here, we introduce and implement QOCT based on collinear entangled photons. It makes use of a two-photon Michelson interferometer and offers several advantages, such as simplicity, robustness, and adaptability.
Quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT) is the non-classical counterpart of optical coherence tomography (OCT), by which quantum interference of entangled photon pairs is used to show some advantages over classical OCT. Currently, almost all research on the QOCT focuses on the case with two photons and a twofold improvement in axial resolution has been demonstrated. Here, we introduce the multiple reflections strategy into the QOCT scheme, referencing the multi-pass strategy of the sequential scheme in quantum metrology, and provide a theoretical framework for multi-reflection quantum-optical coherence tomography (MQOCT). According to such a scheme, when the incident light interacts with the sample N times, the axial resolution of MQOCT is theoretically enhanced by a factor of N compared to that of QOCT under the same spectral bandwidth while preserving the dispersion cancellation capability of QOCT. Furthermore, we present a classical optical analogy of MQOCT using P -beam correlated multi-mode broadband beams and experimentally validate it. The classical optical analogy of MQOCT theoretically has the same resolution enhancement capability and dispersion cancellation capability as MQOCT while avoiding the fragility issues associated with the quantum light source which is used in MQOCT.
ABSTRACT Quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT) has received significant attention due to its immunity to even‐order dispersion and its ability to double the resolution compared to conventional optical coherence tomography (OCT). However, QOCT typically relies on nonlinear processes to generate frequency‐correlated photon pairs as a probe state. The high‐power pump laser requirement poses a major barrier to practical implementations of QOCT. In this paper, we propose the substitution of spectrally correlated photon pairs in QOCT with the weak multimode coherent state as the input source. Through integration with post‐selective spectral‐domain measurement techniques, we demonstrate that our scheme preserves the advantages of QOCT, including even‐order dispersion cancellation and a two‐fold increase in resolution. The key advantage of our scheme is its removal of the requirement for nonlinear‐process‐generated spectrally correlated photon pairs as the light source. This advancement is particularly beneficial for practical applications of QOCT.
Quantum technologies harness the intrinsic nature of quantum physics to beat limitations of classical methods. Recently, the application of quantum entanglement to metrology has attracted much attention. Quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT) using two-photon interference between entangled photon pairs can overcome certain problems with classical optical coherence tomography (OCT). As the resolution of OCT becomes higher, degradation of the resolution due to dispersion becomes more critical. Here we show our work on the realization of 0.54 μm resolution two-photon interference, which surpasses the current record resolution 0.75 μm for OCT. In addition, the resolution for QOCT showed almost no change even when a 1-mm-thick water was inserted in the path of the interferometer. The results presented here represent a breakthrough for the realization of ultrahigh-resolution quantum metrology. Our work will open up possibilities for medical and biological applications.