Quantum imaging using spatially entangled photon pairs from a nonlinear metasurface

Abstract

Abstract Nonlinear metasurfaces with subwavelength thickness were recently established as versatile platforms for the enhanced and tailorable generation of entangled photon pairs. The small dimensions and inherent stability of integrated metasurface sources are attractive for free-space applications in quantum communications, sensing, and imaging, yet this remarkable potential remained unexplored. Here, we formulate and experimentally demonstrate the unique benefits and practical potential of nonlinear metasurfaces for quantum imaging at infrared wavelengths, facilitating an efficient protocol combining ghost and all-optical scanning imaging. The metasurface incorporates a subwavelength-scale silica metagrating on a lithium niobate thin film. Its distinguishing feature is the capability to all-optically scan the photon emission angle in the direction across the grating simply by tuning the pump beam wavelength. Simultaneously, the photon emission is broad and anti-correlated along the grating direction, allowing for ghost imaging. Thereby, we reconstruct the images of 2D objects using just a 1D detector array in the idler path and a bucket detector in the signal path, by recording the dependencies of photon coincidences on the pump wavelength. Furthermore, we theoretically demonstrate the quantum imaging of objects with an ultra-large field of view and improved imaging resolution. Remarkably, the corresponding number of resolution cells can exceed the performance of quantum ghost imaging with conventional bulky crystals by over four orders of magnitude. The demonstrated concept can be extended to multi-wavelength operation and other applications such as quantum object tracking, paving the way for advancements in quantum technologies using ultra-compact nanostructured metasurfaces.