Improving angular resolution of telescopes through probabilistic single-photon amplification?

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of probabilistic single-photon amplification to enhance the angular resolution of telescopes beyond the diffraction limit, highlighting theoretical foundations, practical challenges, and fundamental trade-offs involved.

Contribution

It discusses the theoretical basis and practical considerations of using probabilistic amplification in astronomical imaging to surpass diffraction limits.

Findings

Probabilistic amplification can improve angular resolution beyond diffraction limits.

There is a fundamental trade-off between resolution gain and throughput loss.

Practical implementation remains an open challenge.

Abstract

The use of probabilistic amplification for astronomical imaging is discussed. Probabilistic single photon amplification has been theoretically proven and practically demonstrated in quantum optical laboratories. In astronomy it should allow to increase the angular resolution beyond the diffraction limit at the expense of throughput: not every amplification event is successful -- unsuccessful events contain a large fraction of noise and need to be discarded. This article indicates the fundamental limit in the trade-off between gain in angular resolution and loss in throughput. The practical implementation of probabilistic amplification for astronomical imaging remains an open issue.