Correlated-photon imaging at 10 volumetric images per second

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a high-speed correlated-photon imaging system using chaotic light and ultrafast SPAD sensors, achieving 10 volumetric images per second, thus enhancing practical applicability of quantum-inspired 3D imaging.

Contribution

It introduces a novel single-lens CPI scheme combining chaotic light correlations with ultrafast SPAD sensors for rapid volumetric imaging.

Findings

Achieved 10 volumetric images per second.

Utilized chaotic light and SPAD sensors for high-speed imaging.

Proved potential for practical applications of correlated-photon imaging.

Abstract

The correlation properties of light provide an outstanding tool to overcome the limitations of traditional imaging techniques. A relevant case is represented by correlation plenoptic imaging (CPI), a quantum-inspired volumetric imaging protocol employing spatio-temporally correlated photons from either entangled or chaotic sources to address the main limitations of conventional light-field imaging, namely, the poor spatial resolution and the reduced change of perspective for 3D imaging. However, the application potential of high-resolution imaging modalities relying on photon correlations is limited, in practice, by the need to collect a large number of frames. This creates a gap, unacceptable for many relevant tasks, between the time performance of correlated-light imaging and that of traditional imaging methods. In this article, we address this issue by exploiting the photon number correlations intrinsic in chaotic light, combined with a cutting-edge ultrafast sensor made of a large array of single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). This combination of source and sensor is embedded within a novel single-lens CPI scheme enabling to acquire 10 volumetric images per second. Our results place correlated-photon imaging at a competitive edge and prove its potential in practical applications.