Scientific Reports (Apr 2021)

Scattering-lens based quantum imaging beyond shot noise

  • Dong Li,
  • Yao Yao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85846-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 16

Abstract

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Abstract The scheme of optical imaging using scattering lens can provide a resolution beyond the classical optical diffraction limit with a coherent-state input. Nevertheless, due to the shot noise of the coherent state, the corresponding signal-to-noise ratio and resolution are both still shot-noise-limited. In order to circumvent this problem, we theoretically propose an alternative scheme where the squeezed state (with a sub-shot noise) is considered as input and the quantum noise is then suppressed below the shot-noise level. Consequently, when comparing with the previous imaging scheme (using combination of coherent state and scattering lens), our proposal is able to achieve an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio for a given scattering lens. Meanwhile, it is demonstrated that the resolution is also improved. We believe that this method may afford a new way of using squeezed states and enable a higher performance than that of using coherent state and scattering lens.