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arXiv:2507.06879

Impact of Polarization Distinguishability on Coherence in QIUP

Gaytri Arya, Paolo Bianchini, Alberto Diaspro

Published Jul 9, 2025• 1 citation
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Quantum imaging with undetected photons (QIUP) is a promising technique for non-invasive imaging, particularly at wavelengths where detectors are inefficient or unavailable. Recent studies have investigated the role of polarization in QIUP schemes. In this work, we examine whether post-generation optical elements can recover interference when the signal photons are distinguishable in polarization at the source. Specifically, we employ a Mach-Zehnder interferometer after the photon pairs are generated from two nonlinear crystals. Our results indicate that polarization distinguishability at the time of generation leads to a loss of interference that cannot be restored by post-generation optical arrangements. This highlights the fundamental importance of indistinguishability at the source for maintaining coherence in QIUP systems.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2507.06879

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Quantum imaging with undetected photons (QIUP) is a unique method of image acquisition where the photons illuminating the object are not detected. This method relies on quantum interference and spatial correlations between the twin photons to form an image. Here we present a detailed study of the resolution limits of position correlation enabled QIUP. We establish a quantitative relation between the spatial resolution and the twin-photon position correlation. Furthermore, we also quantitatively establish the roles that the wavelength of the undetected illumination field and the wavelength of the detected field play in the resolution. Like ghost imaging and unlike conventional imaging, the resolution limit imposed by the spatial correlation between the twin photons in QIUP cannot be further improved by conventional optical techniques.
Quantum imaging with undetected photons (QIUP) is a unique imaging technique that does not require the detection of the light used for illuminating the object. This technique requires a correlated pair of photons. In the existing implementations of QIUP, the imaging is enabled by the momentum correlation between the twin photons. We investigate the complementary scenario in which the imaging is instead enabled by the position correlation between the two photons. We present a general theory and show that the properties of the images obtained in these two cases are significantly distinct.
We propose a theoretical polarization tomography scheme within the quantum imaging with undetected photons (QIUP) framework that extracts the Jones matrix elements, describing the sample's polarization response from interference visibilities and phase shifts. By exploiting inherent constraints among the Jones matrix elements based on the assumptions of fully polarized pure states and linear, non-depolarizing components, the method reduces the number of unknowns required for reliable reconstruction. The same interference-based protocol is also demonstrated for a fully generalized Jones matrix, extending the approach to a broader class of polarization responses. This scheme is well suited for polarization-resolved QIUP implementations with minimal measurement requirements and enables non-invasive characterization of complex samples at different probing and detection wavelengths.