Energetic Considerations in Quantum Target Ranging

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of quantum illumination for target ranging, applying quantum hypothesis testing and channel position finding, but finds energetic constraints may prevent quantum advantage in practical scenarios.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum target ranging approach based on CPF and analyzes energetic limitations that challenge quantum advantage realization.

Findings

Quantum hypothesis testing applied to time bins sets error bounds.

Energetic considerations suggest quantum advantage may not be physically achievable.

The approach links quantum channel discrimination with practical target ranging constraints.

Abstract

While quantum illumination (QI) can offer a quantum-enhancement in target detection, its potential for performing target ranging remains unclear. With its capabilities hinging on a joint-measurement between a returning signal and its retained idler, an unknown return time makes a QI-based protocol difficult to realise. This paper outlines a potential QI-based approach to quantum target ranging based on recent developments in multiple quantum hypothesis testing and quantum-enhanced channel position finding (CPF). Applying CPF to time bins, one finds an upper-bound on the error probability for quantum target ranging. However, using energetic considerations, we show that for such a scheme a quantum advantage may not physically be realised.