Abstract

In the last years several proof of principle experiments have demonstrated the advantages of quantum technologies respect to classical schemes in imaging, metrology and sensing. The present challenge is to overcome the limits of proof of principle demonstrations to approach real applications. Here, we present the such an achievement in the field of quantum enhanced imaging. In particular, we describe the realization of a sub-shot-noise (SSN) wide field microscope (see Ref. [1]), based on spatially multi-mode non-classical photon number correlations [2]. The microscope produces real-time images of 8000 pixels at full resolution, for (500µm)² field-of-view, with noise reduced at 80% of the shot noise level in each pixel. This is suitable for absorption imaging of complex structures, like biological samples. By simple post-elaboration, specifically applying a “quantum enhanced median filter”, the noise is further reduced (less than 30% of the shot noise level) by setting a trade-off with the resolution. It realizes the best sensitivity per incident photon ever achieved in absorption microscopy.

© 2017 IEEE