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OSA Quantum 2.0 Conference

Thresholded Quantum LIDAR : Exploiting Photon-Number-Resolving Detection

Lior Cohen, Elisha S. Matekole, Yoni Sher, D. Istrati, H. S. Eisenberg, Jonathan P. Dowling

Published Jan 1, 2020• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We filter low photon-number using photon-number-resolving detector, for improving the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) of rangefinders and LIDARs. We investigate the technique properties and show where it surpasses the classical SNR.
DOI
10.1364/quantum.2020.qw6b.19

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Comment on “Thresholded Quantum LIDAR: Exploiting Photon-Number-Resolving Detection”

Éric Lantz

The ratio of the SNR with thresholding and with proportional detection for one photon of mean background noise, for a threshold value N from 1 to 4.

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We present a technique that improves the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) of range-finding, sensing, and other light-detection applications. The technique filters out low photon numbers using photon-number-resolving detectors. This technique has no classical analog and cannot be done with classical detectors. We investigate the properties of our technique and show under what conditions the scheme surpasses the classical SNR. Finally, we simulate the operation of a rangefinder, showing improvement with a low number of signal samplings and confirming the theory with a high number of signal samplings.
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Light detection and ranging is a key technology for a number of applications, from relatively simple distance ranging to environmental monitoring. When dealing with low photon numbers, an important issue is the improvement of the signal-to-noise-ratio, which is severely affected by external sources whose emission is captured by the detection apparatus. In this paper, we present an extension of the technique developed in Cohen et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 203601 (2019)] to the effects caused by the propagation of light through a turbulent media as well as the detection through photon counting devices bearing imperfections in terms of efficiency and number resolution. Our results indicate that even less performing technology can result in a useful detection scheme.
This work is devoted to the development of novel photon-detector models at room temperature using quantum optics elements. This work comprises of two photon-number-resolving detector (PNRD) models, and the application of PNRD in LIDAR. The first model is based on using a two-mode squeezing device to resolve photon number at room temperature. In this model we study the average intensity-intensity correlations signal at the output of a two-mode squeezing device with |N> and |α> as the two input modes. We show that the input photon-number can be resolved from the average intensity-intensity correlations. In particular, we show jumps in the average intensity-intensity correlations signal as a function of input photon-number N. Therefore, we propose that such a device may be deployed as photon-number-resolving detector at room temperature with high efficiency. In the second model we study the atom-vapor based PNRD from first principles, including quantum mechanical treatment of the electromagnetic field. We analyze a photon detector model that combines coherently controlled absorption of light and resonance fluorescence to achieve photon counting at room temperature. In particular we identify the fundamental limits to this particular scheme of photon detection. We show that there exists a time-energy uncertainty between the incident pulse strength and the time period of the incident pulse. We verify the role of a large ensemble of atoms in boosting the efficiency of such a detector. Lastly, we show the application of PNRD technique to enhance laser range finding and light detection and ranging. We present a technique that improves the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) of range-finding, sensing, and other light-detection applications. The technique filters out low photon numbers using PNRD. This technique has no classical analog and cannot be achieved with classical detectors. We investigate the properties of our technique and show under what conditions the scheme surpasses the classical SNR. Finally, we simulate the operation of a rangefinder, showing improvement with a low number of signal samplings and confirming the theory with a high number of signal samplings.
Abstract Photon statistics of an optical field can be used for quantum optical sensing in low light level scenarios free of bulky optical components. However, photon-number-resolving detection to unravel the photon statistics is challenging. Here, we propose a novel detection approach, that we call ‘photon discerning’, which uses adaptive photon thresholding for photon statistical estimation without recording exact photon numbers. Our photon discerner is motivated by the field of neural networks where tunable thresholds have proven efficient for information extraction in machine learning tasks. The photon discerner maximizes Fisher information per photon by iteratively choosing the optimal threshold in real-time to approach the shot noise limit. Our proposed scheme of adaptive photon thresholding leads to unique remote-sensing applications of quantum degree of linear polarization camera and quantum LiDAR. We investigate optimal thresholds and show that the optimal photon threshold can be counter-intuitive (not equal to 1) even for weak signals (mean photon number much less than 1), due to the photon bunching effect. We also put forth a superconducting nanowire realization of the photon discerner which can be experimentally implemented in the near-term. We show that the adaptivity of our photon discerner enables it to beat realistic photon-number-resolving detectors with limited photon-number resolution in certain applications. Our work suggests a new class of detectors for information-theory driven, compact, and learning-based quantum optical sensing.