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arXiv:2408.02636 · Physical Review Research

Quantum target ranging for LiDAR

Giuseppe Ortolano, Ivano Ruo Berchera

Published Jun 9, 2025• 7 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We investigate Quantum Target Ranging in the context of multihypothesis testing and its applicability to real-world LiDAR systems. First, we demonstrate that ranging is generally an easier task compared to the well-studied problem of target detection. We then analyze the theoretical bounds and advantages of quantum ranging in the context of phase-insensitive measurements, which is the operational mode of most LiDAR systems. Additionally, we adopt a background noise model more suited to optical frequencies, as opposed to the typical single-mode thermal noise model used in quantum target detection theory. Our findings indicate that a significant exponential quantum advantage can be achieved using simple photon-counting receivers across a broad range of parameters, thereby validating the efficacy of the quantum approach for LiDAR implementations.

DOI
10.1103/physrevresearch.7.l022059

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We investigate Quantum Target Ranging in the context of multihypothesis testing and its applicability to real-world LiDAR systems. First, we demonstrate that ranging is generally an easier task compared to the well-studied problem of target detection. We then analyze the theoretical bounds and advantages of quantum ranging in the context of phase-insensitive measurements, which is the operational mode of most LiDAR systems. Additionally, we adopt a background noise model more suited to optical frequencies, as opposed to the typical single-mode thermal noise model used in quantum target detection theory. Our findings indicate that a significant exponential quantum advantage can be achieved using simple photon-counting receivers across a broad range of parameters, thereby validating the efficacy of the quantum approach for LiDAR implementations.
Quantum Lidar is a future technology that can mean different things to different people. To some it means detection and identification of classical-type lidar signals reflected from an illuminated target at or near the single photon level. This is facilitated by advances in semiconductor detector technology that allow highly efficient photocounting. To others it is more stringent, requiring exploitation of covertness associated with being essentially undetectable by the target in a thermal background, whilst allowing the lidar operator to filter her own signal from this noise. Again there is nothing specifically quantum about this. Any source that mimics of the energy rate per bandwidth seen by the illuminated object in the direction of the source can appear covert. In order to exploit quantum optics one can use inherent correlations, whether entangled or otherwise between light beams. Simple correlated optical beams can do this in two ways, perhaps by storing one beam as a reference and later performing correlated detection with the return signal in a phase sensitive manner. This is the “gold standard” for quantum lidar, but will be difficult outside of laboratory situations. In microscopy such phase control might be possible, or perhaps in the radio or microwave region for a quantum radar. Less challenging is a scenario in which an immediate local measurement of one beam conditions the beam sent to the target, allowing the return signal to be sifted from noise more easily. Here we will consider such a simple system, providing a range equation for a basic quantum lidar if it is to be operated covertly or openly. Open operation allows increased quantum signal brightness but also provides a quantum advantage, unspoofability – the lidar operator can in principle recognise their own return signal. We will also provide an analysis of quantum lidar detection based on quantum hypothesis testing and use this to perform Monte Carlo simulation of both target detections and false positive avoidance in a noisy background. The theory will be applied to experimental data.
Quantum lidar leverages the quantum properties of light to gain advantages over classical lidar, such as enhancing range accuracy and reducing the emitted optical power needed to detect a target. The low optical power makes quantum lidar especially attractive for minimizing the probability of being detected by an adversary. Various quantum sources have been considered for quantum lidar; however, a practical comparison between such widely different systems is challenging. Here, we develop a theoretical model tailored to quantum lidar for stealth ranging and imaging, and compare the performance of such systems using an attenuated pulsed laser, a quantum dot single-photon source, and a spontaneous parametric down-conversion correlated photon pair source. To ensure a fair comparison, all sources employ time correlations for detection and are equalized in terms of optical power and detectability by an adversary. Furthermore, we demonstrate the limitation of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as a sole metric, as it ignores the acquisition time required to confidently identify a target. To address the limitation of SNR, we supplement this metric with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. With the inclusion of ROC curves, we find that the pulsed laser and the quantum dot single-photon source outperform the correlated photon pair source when an adversary possesses a non-photon-number-resolving detector. In contrast, when facing a photon-number-resolving detector, the quantum dot single-photon source remains optimal while the correlated photon pair source outperforms the pulsed laser. Our findings demonstrate that the use of a correlated photon pair source for quantum lidar does not always outperform alternative sources with equal SNR and optical power. Finally, using ROC curves, we establish the practical range limitations of quantum lidar.
Quantum light detection and ranging (LiDAR) utilizes quantum entanglement and correlation to improve precision, noise resilience and covertness of target detection. Despite recent advances, the development of a quantum LiDAR system that simultaneously achieves high precision and a large measurement range remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate a quantum amplitude-modulated continuous wave LiDAR with micrometer precision achievable via increased acquisition time and meter-scale measurement range. In our demonstration, the signal photons directly illuminate the target, while the idler photons are non-locally modulated with a high-frequency cosine wave and never interact with the target. By leveraging the non-local modulation and the quantum correlation, the target detection is achieved with a precision of 0.64 ±\pm± 0.06 mm within one second over a measurement range of 2-8 m. As the acquisition time is up to 500 s, the system achieves a precision of 29 ± 4 μm\pm\ 4{\ \mathrm{μm}}± 4 μm. Furthermore, our system realizes a 50 times precision improvement over the classical single-photon scheme in a background noise 37 dB stronger than the returned probe photons. With these advantages, our method will open venues for the development of high-precision, long-range, and noise-resilient target detection.
Use of non-classical light in a quantum illumination scheme provides an advantage over classical illumination when used for LIDAR with a simple and realistic detection scheme based on Geiger-mode single photon detectors. Here we provide an analysis that accounts for the additional information gained when detectors do not fire that is typically neglected and show an improvement in performance of quantum illumination. Moreover, we provide a theoretical framework quantifying performance of both quantum and classical illumination for simple target detection, showing parameters for which a quantum advantage exists. Knowledge of the regimes that demonstrate a quantum advantage will inform where possible practical quantum LIDAR utilising non-classical light could be realised.
Use of non-classical light in a quantum illumination scheme provides an advantage over classical illumination when used for LIDAR with a simple and realistic detection scheme based on Geiger-mode single photon detectors. Here we provide an analysis that accounts for the additional information gained when detectors do not fire that is typically neglected and show an improvement in performance of quantum illumination. Moreover, we provide a theoretical framework quantifying performance of both quantum and classical illumination for simple target detection, showing parameters for which a quantum advantage exists. Knowledge of the regimes that demonstrate a quantum advantage will inform where possible practical quantum LIDAR utilising non-classical light could be realised.
Quantum radars and lidars are a novel, much-discussed, and rapidly evolving field of quantum science and technology, promising remarkable advantages in such basic tasks as target detection, ranging, and recognition. Quantum radars and lidars have already moved from the realm of theoretical considerations toward experiments, green, and as is the case for lidars, toward practical applications. Here we review the underlying concepts and present the basic configurations of quantum radars and lidars based on photonic entanglement and single-photon detection. We also briefly discuss the methods of producing entangled photons, such as spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC), spontaneous four-wave mixing, Josephson parametric amplifiers (JPAs), and quantum antennas. We show that quantum technologies open promising avenues toward the enhancement of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and overcoming the Rayleigh limit in radar and lidar systems.