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Journal of Physics Conference Series

Quantum LiDAR, a Review: Principles and Quantum Advantage

SRG Hall

Published Nov 1, 2025• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Quantum LiDAR leverages nonclassical light states, quantum correlations, and advanced detection schemes to enhance sensitivity, resolution, and noise resilience in active optical ranging. This review presents the theoretical principles underpinning quantum LiDAR, surveys experimental milestones, and compares the quantum advantage provided against classical LiDAR systems.

DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/3134/1/012006

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Abstract Quantum LiDAR leverages nonclassical light states, quantum correlations, and advanced detection schemes to enhance sensitivity, resolution, and noise resilience in active optical ranging. This review presents the theoretical principles underpinning quantum LiDAR, surveys experimental milestones, and compares the quantum advantage provided against classical LiDAR systems.
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) has emerged as a pivotal sensor across diverse domains such as autonomous driving, mapping, and remote sensing, owing to its exceptional orientation capabilities and high resolution. The detection mechanism of LiDAR is fundamentally categorized into non-coherent detection and coherent detection. Non-coherent detection employs the direct detection method, which involves measuring changes in the intensity of the reflected light signal to achieve detection. Pulse LiDAR, which determines the target range through pulsed time-of-flight measurements, falls within this classification. On the other hand, coherent detection employs heterodyne detection techniques and achieves detection by measuring the frequency or phase difference between the echo signal and the local oscillator signal. This approach is utilized in frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) LiDAR and Doppler speed LiDAR. LiDAR systems employing coherent detection methods can attain heightened sensitivity while operating at lower transmission power levels. However, due to the limitations posed by quantum noise, conventional LiDAR systems have encountered challenges in terms of detection sensitivity and resolution, prompting the need for advancement. In recent times, spurred by the emergence of quantum metrology, a quantum version of LiDAR has been conceptualized, promising superior precision and resolution. Leveraging the enhanced signal-to-noise ratio made possible by quantum advancements, quantum LiDAR demonstrates the potential to extend detection ranges, elevate detection accuracy, bolster anti-jamming capabilities, and enhance anti-stealth performance beyond that of classical LiDAR, all while operating at equivalent transmission signal power levels. As an emerging technology, quantum LiDAR is currently in its exploratory phase, and several challenges must be confronted prior to its practical implementation. These challenges encompass a restricted array of methods for the effective generation of quantum light sources, the vulnerability of quantum states to environmental factors, resulting in their deterioration, the constrained techniques for modulating quantum light sources, and the critical necessity to augment detector sensitivity. Furthermore, present quantum LiDAR efforts primarily concentrate on imaging and ranging capabilities, with limited research dedicated to simultaneous velocity measurement and ranging. Hence, forthcoming investigations into quantum LiDAR will center around optimizing quantum light source efficiency, exploring high-dimensional modulation techniques, and advancing high-sensitivity detectors. These efforts aim to enhance system stability and enable miniaturization, ultimately leading to superior target detection performance. This review centers on the evaluation of ranging and velocity measurement performance within quantum LiDAR systems. Following a concise introduction to two renowned categories of classical LiDAR—namely, pulse LiDAR and FMCW LiDAR, the paper delves into the progress made in quantum pulsed LiDAR and quantum interferometric LiDAR. In particular, this review highlights the advancements in quantum FMCW LiDAR, a system proposed for achieving simultaneous range and velocity measurements with quantum enhancement. By conducting a thorough assessment of the current accomplishments in quantum LiDAR research, the study seeks to attain a more profound comprehension of prevailing research focal points and obstacles, thus offering invaluable insights to steer its prospective advancement.
Abstract : The Louisiana State University (LSU) led team carried out an exhaustive study of a two-mode quantum optical sensor. The classical baseline of comparison was a standard two-mode coherent Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system. The LSU quantum LIDAR system has many of the same features of the classical system, with the critical exception that the photon source and detection scheme were treated quantum mechanically and the complete analysis of loss was carried out in a quantum optical setting. A critical deliverable or our Phase I also is to provide a complete quantum theory and analysis of the performance of what is typically known as classical coherent LIDAR. A crucial point to realize here is that there is no such thing as classical LIDAR. The standard laser beam used in classical LIDAR is a quantum coherent state of light whose properties set the limits to resolution and sensitivity. Hence the classical baseline is in fact a quantum baseline, in this sense.
Quantum Lidar is a future technology that can mean different things to different people. To some it means detection and identification of classical-type lidar signals reflected from an illuminated target at or near the single photon level. This is facilitated by advances in semiconductor detector technology that allow highly efficient photocounting. To others it is more stringent, requiring exploitation of covertness associated with being essentially undetectable by the target in a thermal background, whilst allowing the lidar operator to filter her own signal from this noise. Again there is nothing specifically quantum about this. Any source that mimics of the energy rate per bandwidth seen by the illuminated object in the direction of the source can appear covert. In order to exploit quantum optics one can use inherent correlations, whether entangled or otherwise between light beams. Simple correlated optical beams can do this in two ways, perhaps by storing one beam as a reference and later performing correlated detection with the return signal in a phase sensitive manner. This is the “gold standard” for quantum lidar, but will be difficult outside of laboratory situations. In microscopy such phase control might be possible, or perhaps in the radio or microwave region for a quantum radar. Less challenging is a scenario in which an immediate local measurement of one beam conditions the beam sent to the target, allowing the return signal to be sifted from noise more easily. Here we will consider such a simple system, providing a range equation for a basic quantum lidar if it is to be operated covertly or openly. Open operation allows increased quantum signal brightness but also provides a quantum advantage, unspoofability – the lidar operator can in principle recognise their own return signal. We will also provide an analysis of quantum lidar detection based on quantum hypothesis testing and use this to perform Monte Carlo simulation of both target detections and false positive avoidance in a noisy background. The theory will be applied to experimental data.
We investigate Quantum Target Ranging in the context of multihypothesis testing and its applicability to real-world LiDAR systems. First, we demonstrate that ranging is generally an easier task compared to the well-studied problem of target detection. We then analyze the theoretical bounds and advantages of quantum ranging in the context of phase-insensitive measurements, which is the operational mode of most LiDAR systems. Additionally, we adopt a background noise model more suited to optical frequencies, as opposed to the typical single-mode thermal noise model used in quantum target detection theory. Our findings indicate that a significant exponential quantum advantage can be achieved using simple photon-counting receivers across a broad range of parameters, thereby validating the efficacy of the quantum approach for LiDAR implementations.
Quantum radars and lidars are a novel, much-discussed, and rapidly evolving field of quantum science and technology, promising remarkable advantages in such basic tasks as target detection, ranging, and recognition. Quantum radars and lidars have already moved from the realm of theoretical considerations toward experiments, green, and as is the case for lidars, toward practical applications. Here we review the underlying concepts and present the basic configurations of quantum radars and lidars based on photonic entanglement and single-photon detection. We also briefly discuss the methods of producing entangled photons, such as spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC), spontaneous four-wave mixing, Josephson parametric amplifiers (JPAs), and quantum antennas. We show that quantum technologies open promising avenues toward the enhancement of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and overcoming the Rayleigh limit in radar and lidar systems.
Use of non-classical light in a quantum illumination scheme provides an advantage over classical illumination when used for LIDAR with a simple and realistic detection scheme based on Geiger-mode single photon detectors. Here we provide an analysis that accounts for the additional information gained when detectors do not fire that is typically neglected and show an improvement in performance of quantum illumination. Moreover, we provide a theoretical framework quantifying performance of both quantum and classical illumination for simple target detection, showing parameters for which a quantum advantage exists. Knowledge of the regimes that demonstrate a quantum advantage will inform where possible practical quantum LIDAR utilising non-classical light could be realised.