Work

Incoherent Imaging with Spatially Structured Quantum Probes

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Incoherent imaging, including fluorescence and absorption microscopy, is often hindered by weak signals and resolution limits—notoriously, Rayleigh’s curse. We introduce a framework for incoherent quantum imaging in the perturbative (weak-signal) regime that leverages spatially structured quantum probes and multiplexed quantum readout to overcome these limitations. We propose a novel protocol that maps absorption and fluorescence onto distinct idler and signal modes that carry thermal-like signatures characteristic of passive imaging. This yields an explicit architecture for simultaneous absorption and fluorescence imaging at the quantum limit and allows passive-imaging methods to be directly repurposed for active quantum imaging. As a corollary, we show that subdiffraction absorption imaging with quantum probes evades Rayleigh’s curse, whereas classical probes remain provably afflicted. Remarkably, the same protocol supports displacement-field reconstruction of multiple quadratures (e.g., oscillators’ positions) and pertains to both conventional and subdiffraction imaging. We further identify Fock states in a structured spatial mode basis as a non-Gaussian alternative with comparable performance. Though primarily developed for optical imaging, our framework suggests broad applications to phononic and acoustic imaging, and to reconstructing forces, fields, or charge distributions with an array of mechanical oscillators.

Source: Physical Review X

DOI: 10.1103/v3td-r5q6

Authors: Anthony J. Brady, Zihao Gong, Alexey V. Gorshkov, Saikat Guha

Institutions: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science, Joint Quantum Institute, University of Maryland, College Park

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Information and Cryptography

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,200