Abstract

We introduce a new generation of 3D imaging devices based on quantum plenoptic imaging. Position-momentum entanglement and photon number correlations are exploited to provide a scan-free 3D image after post-processing of the collected light intensity signal. We explore the steps toward designing and implementing quantum plenop- tic cameras with dramatically improved performances, unattainable in standard plenoptic cameras, such as diffraction-limited resolution, large depth of focus, and ultra-low noise. However, to make these new types of devices attractive to end-users, two main challenges need to be tackled: the reduction of the acquisition times, that for the commercially available high-resolution cameras would be from tens of seconds to a few minutes, and a speed-up in processing the large amount of data that are acquired, in order to retrieve 3D reconstructions or refocused 2D images. To address these challenges, we are employing high-resolution SPAD (single photon avalanche diode) arrays and high-performance low-level programming of ultra-fast electronics, combined with compressive sensing and quantum tomography algorithms, with the aim of reducing both the acquisition and the elaboration time by one or possibly two orders of magnitude. Moreover, in order to achieve the quantum limit and further increase the volumetric resolution beyond the Rayleigh diffraction limit, we explored dedicated pro- tocols based on quantum Fisher information. Finally, we discuss how this new generation of quantum plenoptic devices could be exploited in different fields of research, such as 3D microscopy and space imaging.

Highlights

  • Fast, high-resolution, and low-noise 3D imaging is highly required in the most diverse fields, from space imaging to biomedical microscopy, security, industrial inspection, and cultural heritage [1,2,3,4,5]

  • Quantum plenoptic cameras promise to offer the advantages of plenoptic imaging, primarily ultrafast and scanning-free 3D imaging and refocusing capability, with performances that are beyond reach for the classical counterpart

  • In a quantum plenoptic imaging (QPI) device integrated with SwissSPAD2, the acquired data rate for a single frame acquisition can be estimated to 26 Gb/s, which is beyond the reach of standard data buses

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Summary

Introduction

High-resolution, and low-noise 3D imaging is highly required in the most diverse fields, from space imaging to biomedical microscopy, security, industrial inspection, and cultural heritage [1,2,3,4,5]. The paper is organized as follows: in Section 2, we discuss the working principle and recent advances of Correlation Plenoptic Imaging (CPI), a technique that represents the direct forerunner of QPI; in Section 3, we present the hardware innovations currently investigated to reduce the acquisition times in CPI; in Section 4, we review the algorithmic solutions to improve QPI; in Section 5, we outline the perspectives of our future work in the context of Qu3D project; in Section 6, we discuss the relevance of our research. Imaging at high speed and high resolution” (Qu3D), founded by the 2019 QuantERA call [31]

Plenoptic Imaging with Correlations
Hardware Speedup
SPAD Arrays as High-Resolution Time-Resolved Sensors
Computational Hardware Platform
Quantum and Classical Image-Processing Algorithms
Compressive Sensing
Plenoptic Tomography
Quantum Tomography and Quantum Fisher Information
Perspectives
Findings
Conclusions
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