Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Applied Optics

3D quantum ghost imaging

Carsten Pitsch, Dominik Walter, Leonardo Gasparini, Helge Bürsing, Marc Eichhorn

Published Jul 10, 2023• 34 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present current results of a novel, to the best of our knowledge, type of setup for quantum ghost imaging based on asynchronous single photon timing using single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors, first presented in [Appl. Opt.60, F66 (2021)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.423634]. The scheme enables photon pairing without fixed delays and, thus, overcomes some limitations of the widely used heralded setups for quantum ghost imaging [Nat. Commun.6, 5913 (2015)NCAOBW2041-172310.1038/ncomms6913]. It especially allows three-dimensional (3D) imaging by direct time of flight methods, the first demonstration of which will be shown here. To our knowledge, it is also the first demonstration of 3D quantum ghost imaging at all.

DOI
10.1364/ao.492208

Related papers

Quantum ghost imaging using asynchronous detection

Carsten Pitsch, Dominik Walter, Simon Grosse +3 more

We present first results of a novel type of setup for quantum ghost imaging based on asynchronous single photon timing using single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors. This scheme enables photon pairing with arbitrary path length difference and does, therefore, obviate the dependence on optical delay lines of current quantum ghost imaging setups [Nat. Commun.6, 5913 (2015)NCAOBW2041-172310.1038/ncomms6913]. It is also, to our knowledge, the first quantum ghost imaging setup to allow three-dimensional imaging.

Applied Optics•May 24, 2021•24 citations

3D quantum ghost imaging

Carsten Pitsch, Dominik Walter, Helge Bürsing +1 more

Quantum Ghost Imaging (QGI) is a scheme which uses the temporal correlation of entangled photon pairs (signal and idler) to identify detections belonging to actual entangled pairs and separate them from uncorrelated detections. By also exploiting the spatial correlation of the photon pair, this identification allows to extract image information of the idler photons by imaging the signal photons. This can even be done for non-degenerate photon pairs, allowing imaging at wavelengths without sophisticated cameras in this regime. Recent advances in detector technology, especially single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), allow the design for new cameras capable of single photon detection with both high spatial and temporal resolution. These new detectors are especially useful for application in QGI, allowing to detect each photon individually and identify the correlated pairs after the measurement. It further allows to analyse the time-of-flight of photons and thus enables 3D imaging, the first realization of which will be presented here.

Emerging Imaging and Sensing Technologies for Security and Defence•Oct 17, 2023•1 citation

Asynchronous Quantum Ghost Imaging

Carsten Pitsch, Dominik Walter, Peter Luzmann +2 more

We implemented a novel setup for quantum ghost imaging using two asynchronously running detectors. The subsequent temporal evaluation allows photon pair matching independent of the path length of the photons, thus enabling efficient 3D Imaging.

Quantum Information and Measurement (QIM)•Jan 1, 2021•0 citations

Remote quantum ghost imaging

Carsten Pitsch, Dominik Walter, Helge Bürsing +1 more

Quantum Ghost Imaging (QGI) is a scheme using entangled pairs of photons (signal and idler) in order to perform imaging with both single photons and with only a single-element detector in the spectrum of interest. It utilises the temporal coincidence of the photons to identify associated pairs, while their spatial correlation allows to obtain image information from of the idler photon from the measurement of the signal photon. It is especially useful when using nondegenerate photon pairs, allowing to keep the signal photon in the silicon detection window, while the interacting wavelength can be freely chosen.However, current schemes are limited, as they rely on time-gating and heralding. Recent advances in single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) allow the design of new single photon cameras, which can be outfitted with dedicated in-pixel timing circuitry. This allows to register single photons in both time and space. These detectors allowed us to design a new scheme for QGI, in which the coincidence is evaluated after the measurement. It also allows us to perform depth-resolved 3D imaging based on the time-of-flight of photons, first results of which are presented here.

Optical and Quantum Sensing and Precision Metrology II•Mar 13, 2024•1 citation

Toward video-rate quantum ghost imaging

Carsten Pitsch, Alessia Suprano, Benjamin Guery +10 more

Quantum Ghost Imaging (QGI) is a powerful imaging technique that enables probing of an object using illumination levels beyond classical limits and does not rely on a single-photon-sensitive camera in the spectrum of interest. Current “heralded” QGI setups provide high-resolution images with intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) cameras, but their acquisition time and applicability are limited by setup complexity and detector dead time. Recently, new setups using single photon detection and time-tagging have been shown to allow more efficient acquisition while also enabling new applications, such as remote 3D imaging using “asynchronous” QGI. Here, we demonstrate novel results of two asynchronous QGI setups, using a dedicated high duty-cycle single photon avalanche diode array to drastically reduce acquisition time to sub-second regime, demonstrating video acquisition at 10 fps. As this scheme allows interoperability with arbitrary single photon timing detectors, it can be adapted to a variety of applications and is not bound by the detection window of silicon-based detectors. We further study the impact of the choice of bucket detector and pump laser, using readily available off-the-shelf detectors and lasers. Summarizing the findings, we discuss the remaining limitations for real-time imaging and give an outlook on upcoming developments and an outline of further applications of both detectors and detection scheme.

APL Photonics•Oct 1, 2025•4 citations

Quantum ghost imaging microscopy depth-of-field study

Dominique Davenport, Audrey V. Eshun, Brandon J. Demory +12 more

Quantum ghost imaging approaches have been proposed to enhance biological microscopy, for example, using 2D visible detectors to provide IR images or providing additional dimensions of spatial or spectral information. Toward the goal of making such imaging schemes practical, we compare image quality and depth-of-field between traditional images and ghost images at the same excitation levels. We measure how image quality and depth-of-field depend on the parameters of the entangled light produced using type-I spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). We use a pair of time-synchronized, photon-timing single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array detectors to capture two distinct microscope imaging paths simultaneously on a photon-pair-by-photon-pair basis: one in a traditional imaging pathway and the other a quantum ghost imaging pathway. We calculate the depth-of-field, resolution, contrast, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) through the parameter space of a β-Barium Borate (BBO) type-I bulk non-linear crystal length and angle. Our results provide a basis for choosing parameters for quantum ghost imaging with type-I SPDC sources.

Optics Express•Sep 9, 2024•10 citations
We present current results of a novel, to the best of our knowledge, type of setup for quantum ghost imaging based on asynchronous single photon timing using single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors, first presented in [Appl. Opt.60, F66 (2021)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.423634]. The scheme enables photon pairing without fixed delays and, thus, overcomes some limitations of the widely used heralded setups for quantum ghost imaging [Nat. Commun.6, 5913 (2015)NCAOBW2041-172310.1038/ncomms6913]. It especially allows three-dimensional (3D) imaging by direct time of flight methods, the first demonstration of which will be shown here. To our knowledge, it is also the first demonstration of 3D quantum ghost imaging at all.
We present first results of a novel type of setup for quantum ghost imaging based on asynchronous single photon timing using single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors. This scheme enables photon pairing with arbitrary path length difference and does, therefore, obviate the dependence on optical delay lines of current quantum ghost imaging setups [Nat. Commun.6, 5913 (2015)NCAOBW2041-172310.1038/ncomms6913]. It is also, to our knowledge, the first quantum ghost imaging setup to allow three-dimensional imaging.
Quantum Ghost Imaging (QGI) is a scheme which uses the temporal correlation of entangled photon pairs (signal and idler) to identify detections belonging to actual entangled pairs and separate them from uncorrelated detections. By also exploiting the spatial correlation of the photon pair, this identification allows to extract image information of the idler photons by imaging the signal photons. This can even be done for non-degenerate photon pairs, allowing imaging at wavelengths without sophisticated cameras in this regime. Recent advances in detector technology, especially single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), allow the design for new cameras capable of single photon detection with both high spatial and temporal resolution. These new detectors are especially useful for application in QGI, allowing to detect each photon individually and identify the correlated pairs after the measurement. It further allows to analyse the time-of-flight of photons and thus enables 3D imaging, the first realization of which will be presented here.
Quantum Ghost Imaging (QGI) is a scheme using entangled pairs of photons (signal and idler) in order to perform imaging with both single photons and with only a single-element detector in the spectrum of interest. It utilises the temporal coincidence of the photons to identify associated pairs, while their spatial correlation allows to obtain image information from of the idler photon from the measurement of the signal photon. It is especially useful when using nondegenerate photon pairs, allowing to keep the signal photon in the silicon detection window, while the interacting wavelength can be freely chosen.However, current schemes are limited, as they rely on time-gating and heralding. Recent advances in single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) allow the design of new single photon cameras, which can be outfitted with dedicated in-pixel timing circuitry. This allows to register single photons in both time and space. These detectors allowed us to design a new scheme for QGI, in which the coincidence is evaluated after the measurement. It also allows us to perform depth-resolved 3D imaging based on the time-of-flight of photons, first results of which are presented here.
Quantum Ghost Imaging (QGI) is a powerful imaging technique that enables probing of an object using illumination levels beyond classical limits and does not rely on a single-photon-sensitive camera in the spectrum of interest. Current “heralded” QGI setups provide high-resolution images with intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) cameras, but their acquisition time and applicability are limited by setup complexity and detector dead time. Recently, new setups using single photon detection and time-tagging have been shown to allow more efficient acquisition while also enabling new applications, such as remote 3D imaging using “asynchronous” QGI. Here, we demonstrate novel results of two asynchronous QGI setups, using a dedicated high duty-cycle single photon avalanche diode array to drastically reduce acquisition time to sub-second regime, demonstrating video acquisition at 10 fps. As this scheme allows interoperability with arbitrary single photon timing detectors, it can be adapted to a variety of applications and is not bound by the detection window of silicon-based detectors. We further study the impact of the choice of bucket detector and pump laser, using readily available off-the-shelf detectors and lasers. Summarizing the findings, we discuss the remaining limitations for real-time imaging and give an outlook on upcoming developments and an outline of further applications of both detectors and detection scheme.
Quantum ghost imaging approaches have been proposed to enhance biological microscopy, for example, using 2D visible detectors to provide IR images or providing additional dimensions of spatial or spectral information. Toward the goal of making such imaging schemes practical, we compare image quality and depth-of-field between traditional images and ghost images at the same excitation levels. We measure how image quality and depth-of-field depend on the parameters of the entangled light produced using type-I spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). We use a pair of time-synchronized, photon-timing single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array detectors to capture two distinct microscope imaging paths simultaneously on a photon-pair-by-photon-pair basis: one in a traditional imaging pathway and the other a quantum ghost imaging pathway. We calculate the depth-of-field, resolution, contrast, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) through the parameter space of a β-Barium Borate (BBO) type-I bulk non-linear crystal length and angle. Our results provide a basis for choosing parameters for quantum ghost imaging with type-I SPDC sources.