Design of Operational Quantum Radar

Kadir Durak, Naser Chamani Jam, Cagri Dindar

Quantum Radar is a promising technology that could have a strong impact on the civilian and military realms. In this study we introduce a new concept design for implementing a Quantum Radar, based on the time and polarization correlations of the entangled photons for detection and identification and tracking of high-speed targets. The design is focused on extracting high resolution details of the target with precision timing of entangled photons that provides important operational capabilities like distinguishing a target from a decoy. The quantum entanglement properties guarantee the legitimacy of the photons captured by the search telescope. Time correlations of the photon detection events can be extracted via cross-correlation operation between two sets of photon detection time-tags for the entangled photons. The fact that the wavelengths of the entangled photons can be tuned also makes the Quantum Radar concept an enticing candidate for tracking stealth objects. We present the proof-of-principle test results of the Quantum Radar and discuss the technical challenges and limitations of the design.

Ivan B. Djordjević

Marco O. Lanzagorta

Kadir Durak, Naser Chamani Jam, Cagri Dindar

Quantum Radar is a promising technology that could have a strong impact on the civilian and military realms. In this study we introduce a new concept design for implementing a Quantum Radar, based on the time and polarization correlations of the entangled photons for detection and identification and tracking of high-speed targets. The design is focused on extracting high resolution details of the target with precision timing of entangled photons that provides important operational capabilities like distinguishing a target from a decoy. The quantum entanglement properties guarantee the legitimacy of the photons captured by the search telescope. Time correlations of the photon detection events can be extracted via cross-correlation operation between two sets of photon detection time-tags for the entangled photons. The fact that the wavelengths of the entangled photons can be tuned also makes the Quantum Radar concept an enticing candidate for tracking stealth objects. We present the proof-of-principle test results of the Quantum Radar and discuss the technical challenges and limitations of the design.

Marco O. Lanzagorta

The radar cross section σC is an objective measure of the "radar visibility" of an object. As such, σC is an important concept for the correct characterization of the operational performance of radar systems. Furthermore, σC is equally essential for the design and development of stealth weapon systems and platforms. Recent years have seen the theoretical development of quantum radars, that is, radars that operate with a small number of photons. In this regime, the radar-target interaction is described through photon-atom scattering processes governed by the laws of quantum electrodynamics. As such, it is theoretically inconsistent to use the same σC to characterize the performance of a quantum radar. In this paper we define a quantum radar cross section σQ based on quantum electrodynamics and interferometric considerations. We discuss the theoretical challenges of defining σQ, as well as computer simulations of σC and σQ for simple targets.

Liu, Kang, Xiao Xiao +3 more