Object detection and rangefinding with quantum states using simple detection

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for quantum illumination using simple detectors, demonstrating quantum advantage in noisy environments for object detection and ranging, with practical calibration-free methods and shot number estimates.

Contribution

It introduces a realistic, calibration-free analysis method for quantum illumination with simple detectors, including non-coincidence data, to compare quantum and classical performance.

Findings

Quantum illumination outperforms classical in noisy environments.

The framework includes non-coincidence data for improved analysis.

Estimated number of shots needed for target detection at given confidence.

Abstract

In a noisy environment with weak single levels, quantum illumination can outperform classical illumination in determining the presence and range of a target object even in the limit of sub-optimal measurements based on non-simultaneous, phase-insensitive coincidence counts. Motivated by realistic experimental protocols, we present a theoretical framework for analysing coincident multi-shot data with simple detectors. This approach allows for the often-overlooked non-coincidence data to be included, as well as providing a calibration-free threshold for inferring the presence and range of an object, enabling a fair comparison between different detection regimes. Our results quantify the advantage of quantum over classical illumination when performing target discrimination in a noisy thermal environment, including estimating the number of shots required to detect a target with a given confidence level.