Subwavelength quantum imaging with noisy detectors

TL;DR

This paper investigates the fundamental resolution limits of subwavelength quantum imaging using noisy detectors, revealing that the signal-to-noise ratio fundamentally constrains achievable resolution.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of how noise impacts quantum imaging resolution, establishing the square root of the signal-to-noise ratio as a key limit.

Findings

Resolution scales with the square root of the signal-to-noise ratio

A 20 dB SNR is required to resolve one order below the Rayleigh limit

Noise fundamentally limits quantum imaging resolution

Abstract

It has been recently shown that an interferometric measurement may allow for sub-wavelength resolution of incoherent light. Whereas this holds for noiseless detectors, one could expect that the resolution is in practice limited by signal-to-noise ratio. Here I present an assessment of the ultimate resolution limits that can be achieved using noisy detectors. My analysis indeed indicates that the signal-to-noise ratio represents a fundamental limit to quantum imaging, and the reduced resolution scales with the square root of the signal-to-noise ratio. For example, a signal-to-ratio of $20 dB$ is needed to resolve one order of magnitude below the Rayleigh limit.