Constructing novel non-classical states of electromagnetic field for far-field sensing, RADAR and LIDAR applications
Overview of the Work
Making use of quantum states can drastically improve accuracy and sensitivity of far-field sensing. However, generating non-classical states of electromagnetic radiation is not a simple task even in optical and near-optical wavelength regions. This task becomes very much harder for longer (for example, microwave) wavelength ranges.
In this project, we will develop and demonstrate in experiment a simple strategy for modelling non-classical states of light with weighted mixtures of coherent states. The probability of measuring any observables can be re-created from probabilities of measuring mixtures of easily producible coherent states. We plan to exploit this possibility for quantum diagnostics and imaging, especially in the microwave region. Also, we exploit possibilities of enhancing such devices as single-photon LIDARs.
Our approach will be based on the so-called “data pattern” method. This method gives the possibility to avoid calibrating the measurement set-up when reconstructing the quantum state. One just needs to fit a response from the unknown signal to a weighted mixture of responses from known (most often, coherent) signals. However, apart from being a handy quantum tomography tool, the “data pattern” method carries rather deep physical insight and can possibly open a way to greatly simplify experiments requiring use of non-classical/entangled states that are hard to produce and detect. An arbitrary quantum state can be accurately approximated by a mixture of coherent states with positive and negative weights. Thus, a result of any quantum measurement (i.e., the probability to register any particular measurement outcome) can be reproduced from measurement with a set of coherent states that correspond to states generated by classical light sources.
The project aims to exploit and develop this possibility. The outlined research activity will be carried out by a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, USA, Institute of Physics, Minsk, Belarus, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel and University of Exeter, Exeter, UK. A systematic way to represent optimally non-classical states with coherent state mixtures will be developed and proof-of-the-principle experiments will be carried out. Perspectives for RADAR and LIDAR applications will be outlined and analysed.
The main objectives of project will be:
i) Development of efficient representation of quantum states in terms of coherent states for enhancing far-field sensing schemes;
ii) Performing fundamental experiments demonstrating feasibility of the new strategy of quantum states’ generation (such as Hong-Ou-Mandel experiments and Bell test experiments);
iii) Development of the quantum-enhanced far-field sensing scheme on the basis of single-photon LIDAR;
iv) Development of quantum antenna schemes for emitting emulated quantum states;
v) Analysis of perspectives for RADAR and LIDAR applications.
Major expected outcomes are:
i) The method to represent single-mode and multi-mode few-photon and bright quantum electromagnetic field states in terms of weighted superposition of classical states;
ii) Experimental demonstrations of feasibility of the developed methods with fundamental experiments;
iii) A scheme for enhancement of the single-photon LIDAR;
iv) Analysis of the microwave classically emulated quantum state generation and detection.