Quantum Target Ranging for LiDAR

TL;DR

This paper explores quantum target ranging for LiDAR, demonstrating that quantum methods can significantly outperform classical approaches in realistic noise conditions, offering exponential advantages with simple photon-counting receivers.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis of quantum ranging's advantages in LiDAR, including realistic noise modeling and broad parameter applicability, validating quantum methods for practical use.

Findings

Quantum ranging offers exponential advantage over classical methods.

Photon-counting receivers are effective for quantum LiDAR.

Quantum approach is robust under realistic noise models.

Abstract

We investigate Quantum Target Ranging in the context of multi-hypothesis testing and its applicability to real-world LiDAR systems. First, we demonstrate that ranging is generally an easier task compared to the well-studied problem of target detection. We then analyze the theoretical bounds and advantages of quantum ranging in the context of phase-insensitive measurements, which is the operational mode of most LiDAR systems. Additionally, we adopt a background noise model more suited to optical frequencies, as opposed to the typical single-mode thermal noise model used in quantum target detection theory. Our findings indicate that a significant exponential quantum advantage can be achieved using simple photon-counting receivers across a broad range of parameters, thereby validating the efficacy of the quantum approach for LiDAR implementations.