A quantum-enhanced wide-field phase imager
Robin Camphausen, Álvaro Cuevas, Luc Duempelmann, Roland A. Terborg, Ewelina Wajs, Simone Tisa, Alessandro Ruggeri, Iris Cusini, Fabian Steinlechner, Valerio Pruneri
Abstract
Quantum techniques can be used to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio in optical imaging. Leveraging the latest advances in single-photon avalanche diode array cameras and multiphoton detection techniques, here, we introduce a supersensitive phase imager, which uses space-polarization hyperentanglement to operate over a large field of view without the need of scanning operation. We show quantum-enhanced imaging of birefringent and nonbirefringent phase samples over large areas, with sensitivity improvements over equivalent classical measurements carried out with equal number of photons. The potential applicability is demonstrated by imaging a biomedical protein microarray sample. Our technology is inherently scalable to high-resolution images and represents an essential step toward practical quantum-enhanced imaging.