Quantum limit of superresolution with a noisy imaging system

Mankei Tsang

Mikhail I. Kolobov

We present quantum theory of superresolving imaging of discrete subwavelength structures. We demonstrate that the standard quantum limit of superresolution for imaging of such structures is much higher than for continuous objects.

Mikhail I. Kolobov

Yunkai Wang, Yujie Zhang, Virginia O. Lorenz

Imaging using interferometer arrays based on the Van Cittert--Zernike theorem has been widely used in astronomical observation. Recently it was shown that superresolution can be achieved in this system for imaging two weak thermal point sources. Using quantum estimation theory, we consider the fundamental quantum limit of resolving the transverse separation of two strong thermal point sources using interferometer arrays, and show that the resolution is not limited by the longest baseline. We propose measurement techniques using linear beam splitters and photon-number-resolving detection to achieve our bound. Our results demonstrate that superresolution for resolving two thermal point sources of any strength can be achieved in interferometer arrays.

Yunkai Wang, Yujie Zhang, Virginia O. Lorenz

It has been shown through quantum estimation theory that Rayleigh’s limit can be avoided for single-lens imaging, referred to as superresolution. The quantum estimation approach has recently been used to show superresolution is also possible for imaging based on interferometer arrays in the weak source limit. Following this line of discussion, we consider the resolution limit of estimating the separation between two point sources of arbitrary strength using interferometer arrays. By carefully designing the measurement, we find it is possible to overcome the well-known resolution limit of interferometer arrays as determined by the longest baseline. We construct an optimal measurement to achieve superresolution using linear beam-splitters and photon-number resolved detection.

Sudhakar Prasad, Ziheng Yu