Quantum image processing is a new and exciting subdiscipline of quantum computation that aims to extend classical image processing applications on a quantum computer.The research starts with a proposal of a representation of images on a quantum computer, named Multi-Channel Representation for Quantum Images (MCQI).This representation encodes the positions and their corresponding colors in the images as a normalized quantum state.For an n by n sized image, 2n qubits and 3 qubits are used to carry the position and color respectively.The preparation procedure of a quantum image is discussed by the multi-channel polynomial preparation, which turns the initial quantum states to the MC-QI quantum states.The image retrieval procedure by quantum measurement is proposed which converts the quantum states to classical images.Furthermore, based on MCQI, some categories of possible processing transformations are suggested.By considering the structure of MCQI representation, the Channel of Interest (CoI), the Channel Swapping (CS), the Color Space Transformation (CST), and Alpha Blending (αB) quantum image processing operators are discussed using unitary transformations with low complexity.All the 4 operators are used to process the information about color in the images.Their complexity are analyzed in terms of the number of basic quantum gates which are needed to build the transformations, and they can be built by 9, 3, 287, 28 basic quantum gates, respectively.Some strategies for designing new transformations from known ones are proposed as well.These strategies can be used to design further algorithms for image processing.Based on the MCQI representation and the four image processing operators, a quantum measurement based double-key double-domain watermarking strategy for multichannel quantum images (MC-WaQI) is developed.In these application, a revised of the original MCQI representation and some restricted versions of the transformations are considered.The research provides the foundation to design other quantum image processing algorithms and can be extend to the following areas:• MCQI representation can be used to build quantum image database,• new frequency operations on quantum images based on quantum Fourier quantum discrete cosine, and quantum wavelet transformations,• building the special effect on color quantum movie,• image data transmission by quantum communication.
Far-field optical imaging inevitably involves low-pass spatial filtering, limiting the resolution. Moreover, conventional imaging suppresses high spatial frequency components close to the cutoff, making them invisible under noise, particularly the shot noise arising from discrete and random nature of quantum light. Here we propose and implement a method for reducing the effect of this noise by optically pre-processing the incoming light prior to detection, thereby optimizing the quantum measurement performed on it. Our scheme, termed Fourier Domain Division (FDD), partitions the Fourier plane into multiple regions for independent detection and subsequent post-processing for image reconstruction. By analyzing the quantum and classical Fisher information, we show that our method is advantageous with respect to direct imaging for high spatial-frequency components. As a result, the number of photons required to achieve a certain signal-to-noise-ratio in the Fourier domain is reduced, thus enhancing the overall resolution in the photon-starved regime. We demonstrate our method in microscopy, achieving 5-fold improvement of Fisher information on high spatial-frequency components. Unlike active super-resolution methods, FDD is passive, making it broadly applicable in microscopy and other imaging scenarios where active illumination is impractical, including astronomy and remote sensing. Our work establishes a general strategy for designing quantum optimized superresolution imaging systems, bridging fundamental quantum limits, practical image analysis and computer vision applications.
Quantum computing stands at a transformative threshold, with error-correcting quantum processors expected to emerge within the next five years. This technological advancement will be crucial for maintaining competitive advantage in fields such as cryptography, optimization, molecular medicine, and image processing, with mainstream quantum computing projected by 2030. This study introduces a novel Quantum Parallel Framework (QPF) designed to prepare for the integration of quantum computing in industrial applications. The research focuses on developing and implementing parallel quantum algorithms for practical commercial applications, particularly in image processing. The QPF provides a comprehensive methodology for organizations to build expertise in quantum computing integration with classical systems. It includes a Qiskit interface for managing quantum algorithms and communications with Quantum Processing Units (QPUs), along with a C++ and OpenGL-based front end. The framework's capabilities are demonstrated through a case study implementing a Quantum Hadamard Edge Detector (QHED) in parallel execution. The study evaluates various performance parameters, including QHED threads, processors, Non-Uniform Memory Allocation (NUMA) strategy, thread priority, and image resolution, to optimize processing efficiency. The framework provides a practical pathway for organizations to develop and mature their quantum computing capabilities, focusing on real-world applications and system integration. This work contributes to the growing field of quantum computing by offering a methodology that can be adapted for various quantum algorithms and applications, particularly in preparation for more powerful self-error correcting QPUs.