Theoretical comparison of quantum and classical illumination for simple detection-based LIDAR

TL;DR

This paper provides a theoretical comparison of quantum and classical illumination in LIDAR, demonstrating conditions under which quantum illumination offers a performance advantage using realistic detection schemes.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive theoretical framework that accounts for detector information and identifies regimes where quantum illumination outperforms classical methods.

Findings

Quantum illumination shows improved detection performance under certain conditions.

Theoretical framework quantifies performance differences between quantum and classical LIDAR.

Parameters for quantum advantage are explicitly identified.

Abstract

Use of non-classical light in a quantum illumination scheme provides an advantage over classical illumination when used for LIDAR with a simple and realistic detection scheme based on Geiger-mode single photon detectors. Here we provide an analysis that accounts for the additional information gained when detectors do not fire that is typically neglected and show an improvement in performance of quantum illumination. Moreover, we provide a theoretical framework quantifying performance of both quantum and classical illumination for simple target detection, showing parameters for which a quantum advantage exists. Knowledge of the regimes that demonstrate a quantum advantage will inform where possible practical quantum LIDAR utilising non-classical light could be realised.