Differences between two-photon imaging and its classical simulation are discussed. Quantum entanglement allows simultaneous momentum-momentum and position-position correlations. A quantum image may have spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit. Classical simulations can never achieve that.
Since the early days of quantum mechanics, physicists have been puzzled by the counterintuitive consequences of entanglement. Quantum imaging is one of the most intriguing effects exhibiting the typical nonlocal behavior of entangled states and has in fact stimulated an intense debate regarding fundamental issues of quantum theory. Recently, particular attention has been given to the possibility of simulating quantum imaging classically, that is, without entanglement. The study of quantum imaging has also lead to useful practical applications such as high precision nonlocal timing-positioning and quantum lithography, in which measurements may achieve resolution even beyond the classical limits. In this paper, we first introduce the concept of quantum imaging and emphasize its peculiar quantum nature through a set of inequalities derived from the historical argument of Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen (EPR). The EPR inequalities are the quantitative formulation of the very different physics governing entangled and separable systems. We show that two-photon imaging may achieve its fundamental limit only through nonlocal measurements realized on entangled photon pairs. Furthermore, we show that quantum imaging may be exploited to overcome the Rayleigh diffraction limit; this is the basic idea behind quantum lithography. Finally, we discuss the possibility of extending the coherent two-photon imaging typical of entangled photon pairs to incoherent coincidence imaging, by employing chaotic light. From an applicative viewpoint, chaotic radiation may represent the ideal candidate for mimicking quantum ghost imaging, provided adequate detection schemes are developed.
One of the most surprising consequences of quantum mechanics is the entanglement of two or more distant particles. Even though there are still open questions regarding some fundamental issues related to entangled systems, quantum entanglement has started to play important roles in practical applications. Quantum imaging is one of the hot topics. Quantum imaging has many interesting features which are useful for different applications. For example, quantum imaging can be nonlocal, which is useful for secure two-dimensional information transfer. Quantum imaging can reach a much higher spatial resolution compared with classical imaging, even beyond the diffraction limit. This is useful for lithography and other microsystems fabrication technology. The super-resolution does not represent a violation of the uncertainty principle, it is just a quantum multi-particle phenomenon. Can quantum imaging be simulated classically? This question is closely related to the concerns of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen of 1935. An attempted answer is given based on the analysis of a recent experiment of biphoton imaging-interference/diffraction.
One of the most surprising consequences of quantum mechanics is the entanglement of two or more distant particles. Although questions regarding fundamental issues of quantum theory still exist, quantum entanglement has started to play important roles in practical engineering applications. Quantum imaging is one of these exciting areas. Quantum imaging has demonstrated two peculiar features: (1) reproducing "ghost" images in a "nonlocal" manner, and (2) enhancing the spatial resolution of imaging beyond the diffraction limit. In this article, we start with the review of classical imaging to establish the basic concepts and formalisms of imaging. We then analyze two-photon imaging with particular emphasis on the physics of spatial resolution enhancement and the "ghost" imaging phenomenon.
One of the most surprising consequences of quantum mechanics is the entanglement of two or more distant particles. Although questions regarding fundamental issues of quantum theory still exist, quantum entanglement has started to play important roles in practical engineering applications. Quantum imaging is one of these exciting areas. Quantum imaging has demonstrated two peculiar features: 1) reproducing ghost images in a nonlocal manner and 2) enhancing the spatial resolution of imaging beyond the diffraction limit. In this paper, we start with the review of classical imaging to establish the basic concepts and formalisms of imaging. We then analyze two-photon imaging with particular emphasis on the physics of spatial resolution enhancement and the ghost imaging phenomenon.
One of the most surprising consequences of quantum mechanics is the entanglement of two or more distant particles. Although questions regarding fundamental issues of quantum theory still exist, quantum entanglement has started to play important roles in practical engineering applications. Quantum imaging is one of these exciting areas. Quantum imaging has demonstrated two peculiar features: 1) reproducing "ghost" images in a "nonlocal" manner and 2) enhancing the spatial resolution of imaging beyond the diffraction limit. In this paper, we start with the review of classical imaging to establish the basic concepts and formalisms of imaging. We then analyze two-photon imaging with particular emphasis on the physics of spatial resolution enhancement and the "ghost" imaging phenomenon.
Although questions regarding fundamental issues of quantum theory still exist, quantum entanglement has started to play important roles in practical engineering applications. Quantum imaging is one of these exciting areas. Quantum imaging has so far demonstrated three peculiar features: enhancing the spatial resolution of imaging beyond the diffraction limit; reproducing ghost images in a “nonlocal” manner; and dispersion-cancelation or turbulence-free imaging. The enhanced spatial resolution apparently “violates” the uncertainty principle. The ghost imaging is considered as a “nonlocal” phenomenon due to a point-to-point correlation of two interaction-free photons at distance. All the peculiar features are the results of two-photon interference, which involves the superposition of two-photon amplitudes, a nonclassical entity corresponding to different yet indistinguishable alternative ways of creating a joint-detection event. The effect of turbulence on a classic image can be easily seen from the blurring of the images.