Abstract Traditional Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems rely on a modulated light source to encode information in the probe signal to measure distances. Alternatively, thermal LIDAR uses non-modulated thermal sources of bunched light. In this work, we demonstrate a bunched photon source at telecom wavelength, incorporated in a photon-counting LIDAR system, which determines distances by measuring the second-order correlation. The source is a sub-threshold laser spectrally filtered to extend coherence time, producing an oscillating g (2) curve with an enhanced bunching peak. Utilizing this oscillating bunching increases the signal-to-noise ratio and decreases the number of correlation events required to perform a measurement. This system achieves 2 ps resolution in both fiber-based and free-space measurements with up to 65 dB attenuation and ranges up to 87 km in optical fibers. Our approach demonstrates the possibility of increasing the bunching of classical light sources and improving their usability for LIDAR.Abstract Traditional Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems rely on a modulated light source to encode information in the probe signal to measure distances. Alternatively, thermal LIDAR uses non-modulated thermal sources of bunched light. In this work, we demonstrate a bunched photon source at telecom wavelength, incorporated in a photon-counting LIDAR system, which determines distances by measuring the second-order correlation. The source is a sub-threshold laser spectrally filtered to extend coherence time, producing an oscillating g (2) curve with an enhanced bunching peak. Utilizing this oscillating bunching increases the signal-to-noise ratio and decreases the number of correlation events required to perform a measurement. This system achieves 2 ps resolution in both fiber-based and free-space measurements with up to 65 dB attenuation and ranges up to 87 km in optical fibers. Our approach demonstrates the possibility of increasing the bunching of classical light sources and improving their usability for LIDAR.

Nature CommunicationsDec 29, 20250 citations

Ultrafast modulation of light by light

Nancy J. Halas

Jan 1, 19861 citation

Boosting the photon bunching of classical light via a modified Fabry-Pérot cavity

Lu Zhang, Dongxu Zhou, Hongzhi Zhang +1 more

We proposed to boost the photon bunching effect of classical light via a modified Fabry-Pérot cavity with one of the cavity mirrors being replaced by a spatial light modulator, through which multiple independent transverse modulations, each was to encode independently spatially correlated phase on the wave front of the light field, was cascaded in sequence in the longitudinal propagation direction in the cavity. The two-photon bunching peak and the three-photon bunching peak of the generated superbunching light field were measured to be $36.9\pm2.0$ and $\rm (2.46\pm0.12)\times10^{3}$ , respectively, which, as compared to those of thermal light, were improved by one-order and three-order of magnitude, respectively. Correspondingly, the ghost image visibility reconstructed with the superbunching light was demonstrated experimentally to be improved by $\sim 40$ times as compared to that with the pseudo-thermal light. Such classical superbunching light field is of essential importance not only for fundamental physics but also for potential applications such as correlated imaging, ghost interference and nonlinear optics.We proposed to boost the photon bunching effect of classical light via a modified Fabry-Pérot cavity with one of the cavity mirrors being replaced by a spatial light modulator, through which multiple independent transverse modulations, each was to encode independently spatially correlated phase on the wave front of the light field, was cascaded in sequence in the longitudinal propagation direction in the cavity. The two-photon bunching peak and the three-photon bunching peak of the generated superbunching light field were measured to be $36.9\pm2.0$ and $\rm (2.46\pm0.12)\times10^{3}$, respectively, which, as compared to those of thermal light, were improved by one-order and three-order of magnitude, respectively. Correspondingly, the ghost image visibility reconstructed with the superbunching light was demonstrated experimentally to be improved by $\sim 40$ times as compared to that with the pseudo-thermal light. Such classical superbunching light field is of essential importance not only for fundamental physics but also for potential applications such as correlated imaging, ghost interference and nonlinear optics.

physics.opticsCross-listedarXiv:2610.08269Oct 7, 20260 citations

Controlling Light with Light: Optical Bistability and Optical Modulation

H. M. Gibbs, S. L. McCall, Arthur C. Gossard +3 more

Springer series in optical sciences/SPringer series in optical sciencesJan 1, 197910 citations

Quantum lidar using stationary broadband light

Peng Kian Tan, Xi Jie Yeo, Li Jiong Shen +1 more

Conventional optical ranging techniques require timing modulated light sources to provide for the time-of-flight information, which may allow for detection, jamming or decoy by a third-party with information to the modulation pattern. Quantum ranging techniques, or quantum lidar, use spontaneous parametric down converted light sources to provide the timing correlation, where entanglement is not necessarily exploited in the simplementation, and is complex and expensive. Here we propose the use of stationary broadband light generated from a laser diode operating below threshold to provide the timing correlation, as extracted from thermal photon bunching.Conventional optical ranging techniques require timing modulated light sources to provide for the time-of-flight information, which may allow for detection, jamming or decoy by a third-party with information to the modulation pattern. Quantum ranging techniques, or quantum lidar, use spontaneous parametric down converted light sources to provide the timing correlation, where entanglement is not necessarily exploited in the simplementation, and is complex and expensive. Here we propose the use of stationary broadband light generated from a laser diode operating below threshold to provide the timing correlation, as extracted from thermal photon bunching.

Emerging Imaging and Sensing Technologies for Security and DefenceSep 8, 20211 citation

36.9\pm2.0

and

\rm (2.46\pm0.12)\times10^{3}

, respectively, which, as compared to those of thermal light, were improved by one-order and three-order of magnitude, respectively. Correspondingly, the ghost image visibility reconstructed with the superbunching light was demonstrated experimentally to be improved by

\sim 40

times as compared to that with the pseudo-thermal light. Such classical superbunching light field is of essential importance not only for fundamental physics but also for potential applications such as correlated imaging, ghost interference and nonlinear optics.