Angular resolution of images using photons having non-classical states
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of photon beams at a sensor system, wherein the plurality of photon beams are from a far-field scene;
wherein a first aperture receives a first photon beam in the plurality of photon beams and a second aperture receives a second photon beam in the plurality of photon beams;
wherein the first aperture is physically separated from the second aperture;
interfering each of the first photon beam and the second photon beam in the plurality of photon beams with a corresponding source photon beam in a plurality of source photon beams generated by a coherent source to form a plurality of interference beams, wherein each of the plurality of source photon beams has a non-classical state in which fluctuations in a photon-number of the each of the plurality of source photon beams is reduced to within selected tolerances; and
forming an output signal based on the plurality of interference beams, wherein the output signal is configured for use in generating an image of the scene.
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Abstract
A method, apparatus, and system for improving the angular resolution of an image. A plurality of photon beams originating from a scene are received at a sensor system. Each of the plurality of photon beams is interfered with a corresponding source photon beam in a plurality of source photon beams to form a plurality of interference beams. Each of the plurality of source photon beams has a non-classical state. Fluctuations in a photon-number of the each of the plurality of source photon beams are reduced to within selected tolerances. An output signal is formed based on the plurality of interference beams. The output signal is configured for use in generating an image of the scene.
4 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of photon beams at a sensor system, wherein the plurality of photon beams are from a far-field scene;
wherein a first aperture receives a first photon beam in the plurality of photon beams and a second aperture receives a second photon beam in the plurality of photon beams;
wherein the first aperture is physically separated from the second aperture;interfering each of the first photon beam and the second photon beam in the plurality of photon beams with a corresponding source photon beam in a plurality of source photon beams generated by a coherent source to form a plurality of interference beams, wherein each of the plurality of source photon beams has a non-classical state in which fluctuations in a photon-number of the each of the plurality of source photon beams is reduced to within selected tolerances; and forming an output signal based on the plurality of interference beams, wherein the output signal is configured for use in generating an image of the scene. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a photon source configured to emit source photons having a non-classical state, wherein the source photons are configured to be distributed as a plurality of source photon beams in which fluctuations in a photon-number of each of the plurality of source photon beams is reduced to within selected tolerances, and wherein the photon source is a coherent source; and a sensor system configured to receive a plurality of photon beams that are from a scene wherein the sensor system comprises a first aperture configured to receive a first photon beam in the plurality of photon beams and a second aperture configured to receive a second photon beam in the plurality of photon beams, wherein the first aperture is physically separated from the second aperture, and wherein the sensor system is configured to interfere, using a beam splitter, each of the first photon beam and the second photon beam in the plurality of photon beams with a corresponding source photon beam in the plurality of source photon beams to form a plurality of interference beams, and form an output signal based on the plurality of interference beams, wherein the output signal is configured for use in generating an image of the scene. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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a synthetic aperture configured to receive a plurality of photon beams that are from a scene, wherein the synthetic aperture comprises a first aperture configured to receive a first photon beam in the plurality of photon beams and a second aperture configured to receive a second photon beam in the plurality of photon beams, wherein the first aperture is physically separated from the second aperture; an interference system configured to interfere, using a beam splitter, each of the first photon beam and the second photon beam in the plurality of photon beams with a corresponding source photon beam in a plurality of source photon beams having a non-classical state to form a plurality of interference beams, wherein fluctuations in a photon-number of each of the plurality of source photon beams are reduced to within selected tolerances; and a detector system configured to detect the plurality of interference beams, wherein an output signal configured for use in generating an image of the scene is formed in response to detection of the plurality of interference beams. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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23. A method comprising:
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receiving a first photon beam from a far-field region of a scene at a first aperture of a sensor system and a second photon beam from the far-field region of the scene at a second aperture of the sensor system, wherein the first aperture is physically separated from the second aperture; interfering the first photon beam with a first source photon beam to generate a first interference beam and a second interference beam, wherein the first photon beam is in a non-classical state; interfering the second photon beam with a second source photon beam to generate a third interference beam and a fourth interference beam, wherein the second photon beam is in a non-classical state; detecting the first interference beam at a first detector to generate a first output signal;
detecting the second interference beam at a second detector to generate a second output signal;detecting the third interference beam at a third detector to generate a third output signal;
detecting the fourth interference beam at a fourth detector to generate a fourth output signal; andgenerating an image of the scene using the first output signals, the second output signal, the third output signal, and the fourth output signal. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification