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Photonics Research

Experimental demonstration of full-field quantum optical coherence tomography

Zeferino Ibarra-Borja, Carlos Sevilla-Gutiérrez, Roberto Ramírez-Alarcón, Héctor Cruz-Ramírez, Alfred B. U’Ren

Published Dec 19, 2019• 36 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first implementation of full-field quantum optical coherence tomography (FF-QOCT). In our system, we are able to obtain full three-dimensional (3D) information about the internal structure of a sample under study by relying on transversely resolved Hong–Ou–Mandel (HOM) interferometry with the help of an intensified CCD (ICCD) camera. Our system requires a single axial scan, obtaining full-field transverse single-photon intensity in coincidence with the detection of the sibling photon for each value of the signal-idler temporal delay. We believe that this capability constitutes a significant step forward toward the implementation of QOCT as a practical biomedical imaging technique.

DOI
10.1364/prj.8.000051

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We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first implementation of full-field quantum optical coherence tomography (FF-QOCT). In our system, we are able to obtain full three-dimensional (3D) information about the internal structure of a sample under study by relying on transversely resolved Hong–Ou–Mandel (HOM) interferometry with the help of an intensified CCD (ICCD) camera. Our system requires a single axial scan, obtaining full-field transverse single-photon intensity in coincidence with the detection of the sibling photon for each value of the signal-idler temporal delay. We believe that this capability constitutes a significant step forward toward the implementation of QOCT as a practical biomedical imaging technique.
Quantum-optical coherence tomography (QOCT) is an optical sectioning modality based on the quantum interference of entangled photon pairs in the well-known Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer. Despite its promise, the technique is far from being competitive with current classical OCT devices due to the long required acquisition times, derived from the low photon-pair emission rates. In this work, we, on the one hand, demonstrate a quantum optical coherence microscopy technique, based on full-field QOCT, which employs entangled collinear photon pairs in a Linnik interferometer designed to overcome some of the limitations of previous QOCT implementations, and, on the other hand, test it on representative samples, including glass layers with manufactured transverse patterns and metal-coated biological specimens. In our setup, while the idler photon is collected with a multimode fiber, the signal photon is detected by an intensified charge-coupled device camera, leading to full-field transverse reconstruction through a single-axial acquisition sequence. Interestingly, our setup permits concurrent OCT and QOCT trace acquisition, the former with greater counts and the latter with the benefit of quantum-conferred advantages. We hope that our current results will represent a significant step forward towards the actual applicability of QOCT, e.g., in clinical settings.
Two-photon interference is a cornerstone of quantum optics, enabling imaging, sensing, and precision measurements that surpass classical limits. By harnessing the quantum interference of photon pairs, as demonstrated by the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect, this approach offers superior axial resolution and intrinsic dispersion cancellation, along with strong noise suppression arising from the precise temporal correlations between photons. Building on these principles, we present the theoretical framework and experimental realization of phase-dependent quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT), a technique that employs phase-modulated two-photon interference for noninvasive morphological analysis of multilayered samples. We demonstrate that introducing controlled phase shifts to photon pairs in a Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer effectively eliminates artifacts caused by reflections at different sample layers, thereby greatly improving the accuracy and reliability of QOCT measurements. This work advances the fundamental understanding and practical deployment of two-photon interference, overcoming a key limitation in applying QOCT to real-world applications such as biomedical imaging and materials characterization.
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We report an optimized implementation of spectral-domain quantum optical coherence tomography (SD-QOCT) capable of acquiring axial scans (A-scans) of multilayer samples in the absence of mechanical scanning, at an unprecedented speed. Implementing a novel strategy, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept system that integrates a diffraction grating, a high-resolution intensified CCD camera and a high-flux photon-pair source operating in the VIS-NIR region (≈800 nm). This configuration enables the acquisition of an entire marginal SD-QOCT interferogram in a single camera exposure, yielding a transverse A-scan with a record acquisition time of 100 ms for a mirror sample, which extends to 10 s for a glass coverslip, and a penetration depth of ≈4 mm. The measured interferometric response shows excellent agreement with the theoretical model. These results represent a decisive step toward the practical deployment of SD-QOCT as a competitive imaging modality for biomedical applications.
Random phase perturbations in dynamic media fundamentally limit a broad class of conventional optical imaging, causing severe motion artifacts and resolution degradation in applications from in vivo biomedical tomography to remote sensing. Here, we demonstrate that quantum optical coherence tomography (QOCT), leveraging Hong–Ou–Mandel interference of entangled photons, achieves unprecedented resilience against these disturbances and provides quantitative formulas characterizing this robustness. Theoretically, QOCT exhibits >10-fold slower visibility decay than classical optical coherence tomography (OCT) under random phase fluctuations. Experimentally, it maintains >90 % baseline visibility through turbulent media—conditions where OCT fails. Crucially, this robustness stems from intrinsic quantum properties: interference detection between indistinguishable paths of frequency-entangled identical photons eliminates random path length perturbations and provides native axial resolution doubling (versus classical OCT at identical bandwidth), with neither post-processing nor system modifications required. We validate QOCT’s capability by performing micron-scale 3D tomography of structured targets through dynamic turbid liquids, achieving high-fidelity reconstructions under strong flow turbulence (Reynolds number >5600). This work establishes a paradigm for quantum-enhanced imaging, enabling high-precision volumetric tomography in scenarios from motion artifact-free biological diagnosis to non-contact subaquatic mapping through turbulent air–water interfaces.