University of Ottawa

Purpose

Sensing and imaging are fundamental components in a range of modern technologies. Quantum sensing is based on the potential use of quantum phenomena, i.e., superposition and entanglement, to improve the sensitivity and detection range of sensing devices, e.g., detecting and tracking single biomolecules. Implementing these novel techniques requires preparation, manipulation, and measurement of quantum states of the physical system of interest, e.g., entangled photons. As an example, detecting and tracking single biomolecules is a field that can be revolutionized by employing quantum sensing technologies. Biochemical and biological sensors are just a fraction of areas that can be benefited from the advent of robust quantum sensing methods. The two primary and well-advanced quantum sensing approaches are quantum illumination (target detection) and quantum imaging (including ghost-imaging). Both techniques exploit entangled photons to boost object detection efficiency or imaging resolution in noisy environments. Employing quantum entanglement is a promising approach to overcome fundamental limits of classical imaging, mainly the Rayleigh diffraction limit, and reach precision below the shot-noise limit.