Esi Baiden
Research Mentor: Theodore Goodson III
Mentor Department: Chemistry, LSA
Author(s): Esi Baiden, Yuqiu Lei, Theodore Goodson III, Esi Baiden
Session: Session 1 (9:00 AM – 9:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 40
Abstract
Classical imaging often requires high-intensity light that can damage live biological samples, while lowering the power usually results in poor image quality due to noise. Quantum imaging solves this by using entangled photons to overcome the shot-noise limit. This allows us to capture high-resolution, low-noise images at extremely low light levels, effectively protecting live biological samples. Here, we employed a continuous-wave laser to pump a BBO crystal, generating entangled photon pairs via spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The pairs were separated using a polarizing beam splitter; the signal photon passed through the target mask to a detector, while the idler photon was directed to a single-photon counter. The final image was reconstructed by raster-scanning the target and analyzing the transmission efficiency at each pixel. By leveraging the strong temporal correlations between entangled photons via coincidence counting, this quantum imaging technique offers the potential for enhanced signal-to-noise ratio, thereby improving both image resolution and penetration depth at extremely low light levels.
