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IEEE Radar Conference (RadarConf)

Microwave Quantum Radar using a Josephson Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifier and a Phase-Conjugate Receiver for a long-distance detection

Patrizia Livreri, Emanuele Enrico, David Vitali, Alfonso Farina

Published May 1, 2023• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A Microwave Quantum Radar (MQR) based on the Quantum Illumination (QI) protocol and using a Josephson traveling wave parametric amplifier (JTWPA) and a Phase-Coniugate Receiver is introduced for the first time. A JTWPA, operating as a two-mode squeezed vacuum state quantum source, emitting a microwave signal-idler entangled state is developed and experimentally characterised. A phase-conjugate receiver is used as a joint detecting unit for the entangled signal-idler pairs, and its corresponding receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves are reported and compared to the optimal classic scheme. The proposed MQR scheme paves the way to a long-distance target detection.

DOI
10.1109/radarconf2351548.2023.10149579

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A Microwave Quantum Radar (MQR) based on the Quantum Illumination (QI) protocol and using a Josephson traveling wave parametric amplifier (JTWPA) and a Phase-Coniugate Receiver is introduced for the first time. A JTWPA, operating as a two-mode squeezed vacuum state quantum source, emitting a microwave signal-idler entangled state is developed and experimentally characterised. A phase-conjugate receiver is used as a joint detecting unit for the entangled signal-idler pairs, and its corresponding receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves are reported and compared to the optimal classic scheme. The proposed MQR scheme paves the way to a long-distance target detection.
In this article, the current status of a novel mi- crowave quantum radar (MQR) based on quantum illumination (QI) protocol using a Josephson traveling-wave parametric am- plifier (JTWPA) as a quantum source of broadband microwave entangled photons for detecting very low cross-radar section objects is described. Microwave entangled signal-idler pairs at 3.3 GHz and 3.45 GHz are generated, respectively, with a wide bandwidth equal to 3 GHz, a power gain equal to 15.3 dB, and a noise temperature close to the standard quantum limit (SQL) at cryogenic temperatures. A phase conjugate receiver is used as a joint detection scheme for entangled signal-idler pairs, and the expected performance of the scheme in terms of the corresponding receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is obtained. These results in terms of maximum dynamic bandwidth and ROC candidate our proposed scheme towards a long-range target detection MQR.
In this article, the current status of a novel mi- crowave quantum radar (MQR) based on quantum illumination (QI) protocol using a Josephson traveling-wave parametric am- plifier (JTWPA) as a quantum source of broadband microwave entangled photons for detecting very low cross-radar section objects is described. Microwave entangled signal-idler pairs at 3.3 GHz and 3.45 GHz are generated, respectively, with a wide bandwidth equal to 3 GHz, a power gain equal to 15.3 dB, and a noise temperature close to the standard quantum limit (SQL) at cryogenic temperatures. A phase conjugate receiver is used as a joint detection scheme for entangled signal-idler pairs, and the expected performance of the scheme in terms of the corresponding receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is obtained. These results in terms of maximum dynamic bandwidth and ROC candidate our proposed scheme towards a long-range target detection MQR.
Detection of low-reflectivity objects can be improved by the so-called Quantum Illumination (QI) procedure. However, quantum detection error probability exponentially decays with the source bandwidth. The Josephson Parametric Amplifiers (JPAs) technology utilized as a source, generating pairs of entangled signals called two-mode squeezed vacuum states, shows a very narrow bandwidth limiting the operation of the Microwave Quantum Illumination (MQI) systems. In this paper, for the first time, a microwave quantum radar setup based on quantum illumination protocol and using a Josephson Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifier (JTWPA) is proposed. We experimentally demonstrate the generation and control of three-wave mixing modes produced by a JTWPA, key enabler radiation source for MQI schemes. Measurement results of the developed JTWPA, pumped at 12 GHz, show the capability to generate entangled modes in the X-band, making our MQI system a promising candidate for the detection of stealth objects.
Josephson Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifier (JTWPA) has the potential to offer quantum limited noise and a large bandwidth. This amplifier is based on parametric amplification of microwaves traveling through a transmission line with embedded non-linear elements. In this paper, starting from the fabrication of the JTWPA, based on Quantum Electrodynamics (QEDs), operating as a non-classical quantum source for generating a signal-idler entangled state, its characterization in terms of scattering parameters is presented. The cryogenic and room temperature experimental results are discussed. The good performance of the JTWPA in terms of wide bandwidth and increased transmitted power, makes it an ideal candidate for Microwave Quantum Radar (MQR) applications. Finally, the performance of a MQR based on the JTWPA developed at INRiM are reported, showing a radar maximum range equal to 82.2 m, that represents the greatest value compared to previously published works.
Detection of low-reflectivity objects can be enriched via the so-called quantum illumination procedure. In order that this quantum procedure outperforms classical detection protocols, entangled states of microwave radiation are initially required. In this paper, we discuss the role of Josephson Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifiers (JTWPAs), based on circuit-QED components, as suitable sources of a two-mode squeezed vacuum state, a special signal-idler entangled state. The obtained wide bandwidth makes the JTWPA an ideal candidate for generating quantum radiation in quantum metrology and information processing applications.
Quantum illumination is a sensing technique that employs entangled signal-idler beams to improve the detection efficiency of low-reflectivity objects in environments with large thermal noise. The advantage over classical strategies is evident at low signal brightness, a feature which could make the protocol an ideal prototype for non-invasive scanning or low-power short-range radar. Here we experimentally investigate the concept of quantum illumination at microwave frequencies, by generating entangled fields using a Josephson parametric converter which are then amplified to illuminate a room-temperature object at a distance of 1 meter. Starting from experimental data, we simulate the case of perfect idler photon number detection, which results in a quantum advantage compared to the relative classical benchmark. Our results highlight the opportunities and challenges on the way towards a first room-temperature application of microwave quantum circuits.