Metasurface-Assisted Quantum Ghost Discrimination of Polarization Objects

TL;DR

This paper introduces a metasurface-assisted ghost imaging method that enables non-local discrimination of polarization objects using quantum-entangled or classically-correlated photons, achieving efficient identification with minimal measurements.

Contribution

The work presents a novel metasurface-based approach for polarization object discrimination that leverages quantum entanglement for enhanced performance over classical methods.

Findings

Entangled photons outperform classical correlations in object discrimination.

Only four or fewer measurements are needed for identification.

The method is suitable for real-time, low-light imaging across spectral regions.

Abstract

We develop a concept of metasurface-assisted ghost imaging for non-local discrimination between a set of polarization objects. The specially designed metasurfaces are incorporated in the imaging system to perform parallel state transformations in general elliptical bases of quantum-entangled or classically-correlated photons. Then, only four or fewer correlation measurements between multiple metasurface outputs and a simple polarization-insensitive bucket detector after the object can allow for the identification of fully or partially transparent polarization elements and their arbitrary orientation angles. We rigorously establish that entangled photon states offer a fundamental advantage compared to classical correlations for a broad class of objects. The approach can find applications for real-time and low-light imaging across diverse spectral regions in dynamic environments.