Noise-robust single-pixel imaging in photon counting regime with a pulsed source

TL;DR

This paper introduces a classical method using time-domain cross-correlations to improve noise robustness in single-pixel imaging with pulsed sources, achieving performance comparable to quantum schemes in high-noise environments.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel classical approach that imitates quantum noise rejection in single-pixel imaging, enhancing noise robustness without quantum resources.

Findings

Classically enhanced scheme performs similarly to quantum scheme under high noise.

The method effectively suppresses background noise up to 120 times higher than the signal.

Experimental results demonstrate significant noise robustness in image formation.

Abstract

We present a method to classically enhance noise-robustness of single-pixel imaging in photon counting regime with a pulsed source. By using time-domain cross-correlations between temporal profiles of a pulsed source and received signals, our scheme classically imitates the noise rejection concept of quantum imaging. Under a strong noise environment in which the background noise intensity is up to 120 times higher than the signal one, we compare three different images obtained by conventional, quantum-enhanced, and classically enhanced schemes. The results show that the classically enhanced scheme can be remarkably robust against noise in image formation, which is comparable to the quantum scheme.