Introducing Quantum Erasure HOM (QEHOM) for Free Space Wind Detection. Credit: Professor Xue’s team
A research team proposed a wind detection lidar theory based on upconversion quantum interference and successfully developed a prototype. Their work is published in ACS Photonics.
The main goal of lidar technology is to “see deeper and finer details, and measure faster and more accurately.” Single-photon lidar offers significant improvements over traditional lidar by enabling single-photon detection. Researchers have explored ways to use precise quantum measurement principles in quantum lidar.
Since its discovery in 1987, Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference (also called two-photon interference) has played a crucial role in precise time measurement, quantum state analysis, and quantum processing. quantum information. The application of HOM interference in quantum lidar has become a major research focus.
The research team proposed a theory using HOM interference and high-order quantum fading to demonstrate quantum interference phenomena with independent photons from different light sources. HOM interference is a quantum optical phenomenon in which interference occurs between two photons, even when they do not coexist, showing correlations. Quantum erasure is a quantum mechanical process that can eliminate or restore quantum entanglement between two photons by manipulating additional photons.
Based on this theory, the team developed a two-photon interference atmospheric lidar system using an upconversion detector. This system features single-photon sensitivity, high quantum efficiency, wide detection bandwidth, and multi-wavelength applicability.
The results showed that this quantum lidar system can record optical signals over a bandwidth of more than 17 GHz (corresponding to 13 km/s) at MHz sampling rate, thus solving the high sampling rate and problems large data storage for weak signals in continuous sensing. ultra-fast targets.
In addition, in field experiments, the quantum interference lidar system was able to detect a wind field at a horizontal distance of 16 km with an energy of 70 µJ, improving the detection sensitivity by 7 times compared to to existing lidar systems, with a wind field detection coherence of R². = 0.997.
The successful detection of long-range wind demonstrates the great potential of this new quantum interference lidar technology in measuring weak signals. It can measure optical frequencies without using a frequency discrimination device, combining the advantages of direct and coherent detection. The quantum lidar system has already achieved fiber integration and compactness, which shows promise for future applications of continuous remote sensing of ultra-high speed moving targets.
The team was led by Professor Xue Xianghui from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
More information:
Chong Wang et al, Two-photon coherent atmospheric lidar based on upconversion quantum erasure, ACS Photonics (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.4c00302
Provided by University of Science and Technology of China
Quote: New quantum lidar enables high-sensitivity wind detection (October 21, 2024) retrieved October 21, 2024 from
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