System and processor implemented method for improved image quality and enhancement based on quantum properties

• US 9,123,114 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2014
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Meyers, Ronald E, Deacon, Keith S
• Primary Examiner(s): ENTEZARI, MICHELLE M
• Application Number:
  US14/461,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20140353475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0411 using focussing or collimating elements, i.e. lenses or mirrors; Aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 10/00 Quantum computing, i.e. information processing based on quantum-mechanical phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4053 based on super-resolution, i.e. the output image resolution being higher than the sensor resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/90 Dynamic range modification of images or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/70 Photonic quantum communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/951 by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio

Abstract

A method and system for generating an image utilizing entangled quantum particle pairs comprising at least one processor; at least one source of entangled quantum particles having first and second channels, the first and second channel s outputting first and second pairs of entangled quantum particles, respectively, a first beam splitter operatively connected to the first channel; the first beam splitter configured to split the first pairs of entangled particles for entry into first and second spatial detectors; at least one focusing device operatively connected to the second channel configured to direct the second pairs of entangled quantum particles towards a distant target; each of the first and second spatial detectors detecting one particle of the first pairs of entangled quantum particles; the at least one processor operating to record the detection of entangled quantum particles by the first and second spatial detectors and create image data for display.

Claims

1. A system for generating an image of a target utilizing entangled quantum particle pairs comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one source of entangled quantum particles configured to sequentially output pairs of entangled particles through first and second channels, the first channel being configured to output first pairs of entangled quantum particles, the second channel being configured to output second pairs of entangled quantum particles, the first pairs of entangled quantum particles being entangled with the second pairs of entangled quantum particles;

a first beam splitter operatively connected to the first channel of the at least one source of entangled quantum particles;

the first beam splitter configured to split the first pairs of entangled particles for entry into first and second spatial detectors;

at least one focusing device operatively connected to the second channel configured to direct the second pairs of entangled quantum particles towards a distant target;

the first and second spatial detectors being operatively connected to the at least one processor;

each of the first and second spatial detectors detecting one particle of the first pairs of entangled quantum particles, both spatial detectors measuring particles that have not interacted with the target;

the at least one processor operating to record the detection of entangled quantum particles by the first and second spatial detectors and create image data representing the target; and

at least one display operatively connected to the at least one processor for displaying an image of the target.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a receiver operatively connected to the at least one processor configured to receive second entangled quantum pairs reflected by the target;

a second beam splitter operatively connected to the receiver configured to receive the second entangled quantum pairs reflected from the target, the second beam splitter having third and fourth outputs configured such that one particle from the second pairs of entangled particles are outputted from the third and fourth outputs;

third and fourth spatial detectors operatively connected to the third and fourth outputs and the at least one processor;

the third and fourth spatial detectors operating to detect entangled quantum particles reflected by the target, the at least one processor operating to record the detection of entangled quantum particles by the third and fourth detectors, perform timing measurements and create image data of the target for display on the at least one display.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the second pairs are either reflected or absorbed by the target and the effect of the reflection or absorption is transferred to the corresponding first pairs of entangled quantum particles through the properties of quantum entanglement, and wherein the focusing device and the receiver are telescopes, and wherein the at least one processor is operatively connected to the at least one source of entangled quantum particles.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein at least two of the first, second, third and fourth detectors are low resolution detectors.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine coincidences based on measurements of the first and second spatial detectors which occur within a predetermined time interval.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the processor is configured to generate an image of at least second order using the coincidences.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to apply an image improvement method for generating an image of at least second order using at least one measurable quantum property.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first optical delay element configured to introduce a time delay for the first pairs of entangled particles outputted from the first channel, the first optical delay being configured to control the time the first pairs of entangled quantum particles are detected at the first and second detectors so as to generate an absorption image of the target, a reflection image of the target, or both.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured so that the interfered particles interact with the target causing absorption at the target entangling the retained particle pairs.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured so that the interfered particles interact with the target causing reflection at the target and further comprises optics or focusing components and measurement electronics wherein the measurement of the reflected entangled particles entangles the retained particle pairs.

9. A system for generating an image of a target utilizing entangled quantum particle pairs comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one source of entangled quantum particles configured to sequentially output pairs of entangled particles through first and second channels, the first channel being configured to output first pairs of entangled quantum particles, the second channel being configured to output second pairs of entangled quantum particles, the first and second pairs of entangled quantum particles being entangled;

a first beam splitter operatively connected to the first channel of the at least one source of entangled quantum particles;

the first beam splitter configured to split the first pairs of entangled particles for entry into first and second spatial detectors;

at least one focusing device operatively connected to the second channel configured to direct the second pairs of entangled quantum particles towards a distant target;

the first and second spatial detectors being operatively connected to the at least one processor;

each of the first and second spatial detectors detecting one particle of the first pairs of entangled quantum particles;

the at least one processor operating to record the detection of entangled quantum particles by the first and second spatial detectors and create image data representing the target;

at least one display operatively connected to the at least one processor for displaying an image of the target;

wherein the at least one source of entangled quantum particles comprises a single source of entangled particle pairs and third, fourth, fifth and sixth beam splitters, the third and fourth beam splitters each having first and second outputs, the fifth and sixth beam splitters each having first and second inputs and an output, each of the first outputs being operatively connected to the fifth and sixth beam splitters, and the second outputs being operatively connected to second optical delay elements and phase modulators, the third and fourth beam splitters each configured to split an entangled quantum particle pair such that one of the entangled quantum particle pair enters the first inputs of the fifth and sixth beam splitters, and the other of the entangle quantum particle pair passes though the second optical delay elements and phase modulators prior to entry into the second inputs of the fifth and sixth beam splitters, such that each of the fifth and sixth beam splitters produce first and second entangled quantum particle pairs, the fifth and sixth beam splitters being operatively connected to the first and second channels resulting in entangled quantum particle pairs being directed through the first and second channels.

12. A method for generating an image of a target utilizing entangled quantum particle pairs comprising:

providing at least one source of entangled quantum particle pairs having first and channels;

the at least one source of entangled quantum particle pairs outputting first and second pairs of entangled quantum particles, the first pairs of entangled quantum particles being entangled with the second pairs of entangled quantum particles;

outputting first pairs of entangled quantum particles through the first channel and into a first beam splitter;

outputting second pairs of entangled quantum particles through a second channel towards a target;

utilizing the first beam splitter, splitting the first pairs of entangled quantum particle pairs such that the first particle of each pair enters into a first spatial detector and the second particle of each pair enters into a second spatial detector, both spatial detectors measuring particles that have not interacted with the target;

detecting coincidences utilizing the first and second spatial detectors and at least one processor to create image data representing the target;

displaying an image of the target utilizing the image data.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

providing a receiver operatively connected to the at least one processor configured to receive second entangled quantum pairs reflected by the target;

providing a second beam splitter operatively connected to the receiver configured to receive the second entangled quantum pairs, the second beam splitter having third and fourth outputs configured such that one particle from the second pairs of entangled particles are outputted from the third and fourth outputs;

providing third and fourth spatial detectors operatively connected to the third and fourth outputs and the at least one processor;

detecting entangled quantum particles reflected by the target using the third and fourth spatial detectors,

using the at least one processor, recording the detection of entangled quantum particles by the third and fourth detectors, performing coincidence measurements and creating image data of the target for display based upon the coincidence measurements.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the second pairs of entangled quantum particles are either reflected or absorbed by the target and the effect of the reflection or absorption is transferred to the corresponding first pairs of entangled quantum particles through the properties of quantum entanglement, and wherein the second pairs of entangled quantum particles are directed towards a target using a telescope, and wherein the receiver is a telescope, and wherein the at least one processor is operatively connected to the at least one source of entangled quantum particles.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of detecting coincidences utilizing the first and second spatial detectors and at least one processor to create image data representing the target comprises detecting coincidences based on measurements of the first and second spatial detectors which occur within a predetermined time interval.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate an image of at least second order using the coincidences.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the processor is configured to apply an image improvement method for generating an image of at least second order using at least one measurable quantum property.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising a first optical delay element configured to introduce a time delay for the first pairs of entangled particles outputted from the first channel, the first optical delay being configured to control the time the first pairs of entangled quantum particles are detected at the first and second detectors so as to generate an absorption image of the target, a reflection image of the target, or both.

19. A system for generating an image of a target utilizing entangled quantum particle pairs comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one source of entangled quantum particles configured to sequentially output pairs of entanglement swapped particles through first and second channels, the first channel being configured to output first pairs of entanglement swapped quantum particles, the second channel being configured to output second pairs of entanglement swapped quantum particles, the first and second pairs of entanglement swapped quantum particles being entangled;

a first beam splitter operatively connected to the first channel of the at least one source of entangled quantum particles;

the first beam splitter having first and second outputs configured such that one particle from each of the first pairs of entanglement swapped particles are outputted from the first and second outputs;

at least one focusing device operatively connected to the second channel configured to direct the second pairs of entanglement swapped quantum particles towards a target;

first and second spatial detectors operatively connected to the first and second outputs and the at least one processor;

each of the first and second spatial detectors detecting one particle of the first pairs of entanglement swapped quantum particles, both spatial detectors measuring particles that have not interacted with the target;

the at least one processor operating to record the detection of entanglement swapped quantum particles by the first and second spatial detectors and create image data representing the target; and

at least one display operatively connected to the at least one processor for displaying an image of the target.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

a receiver operatively connected to the at least one processor configured to receive second entanglement swapped quantum pairs reflected by the target;

a second beam splitter operatively connected to the receiver configured to receive the second entanglement swapped pairs reflected from the target, the second beam splitter having third and fourth outputs configured such that one particle from the second pairs of entanglement swapped particles are outputted from the third and fourth outputs;

third and fourth spatial detectors operatively connected to the third and fourth outputs and the at least one processor;

the third and fourth spatial detectors operating to detect entanglement swapped quantum particles reflected by the target, the at least one processor operating to record the detection of entanglement swapped quantum particles by the third and fourth detectors, perform timing measurements and create image data of the target for display on the at least one display.