Quantum Theory of Superresolution for Two Incoherent Optical Point Sources
Rayleigh’s criterion for resolving two incoherent point sources has been the most influential measure of optical imaging resolution for over a century. In the context of statistical image processing, violation of the criterion is especially detrimental to the estimation of the separation between the...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Physical Society
2016-08-01
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| Series: | Physical Review X |
| Online Access: | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.6.031033 |
| _version_ | 1818581593354141696 |
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| author | Mankei Tsang Ranjith Nair Xiao-Ming Lu |
| author_facet | Mankei Tsang Ranjith Nair Xiao-Ming Lu |
| author_sort | Mankei Tsang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rayleigh’s criterion for resolving two incoherent point sources has been the most influential measure of optical imaging resolution for over a century. In the context of statistical image processing, violation of the criterion is especially detrimental to the estimation of the separation between the sources, and modern far-field superresolution techniques rely on suppressing the emission of close sources to enhance the localization precision. Using quantum optics, quantum metrology, and statistical analysis, here we show that, even if two close incoherent sources emit simultaneously, measurements with linear optics and photon counting can estimate their separation from the far field almost as precisely as conventional methods do for isolated sources, rendering Rayleigh’s criterion irrelevant to the problem. Our results demonstrate that superresolution can be achieved not only for fluorophores but also for stars. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T07:35:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8eee646bcff485ebe4d83d068c41f40 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2160-3308 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T07:35:57Z |
| publishDate | 2016-08-01 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physical Review X |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8eee646bcff485ebe4d83d068c41f402022-12-21T22:39:13ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review X2160-33082016-08-016303103310.1103/PhysRevX.6.031033Quantum Theory of Superresolution for Two Incoherent Optical Point SourcesMankei TsangRanjith NairXiao-Ming LuRayleigh’s criterion for resolving two incoherent point sources has been the most influential measure of optical imaging resolution for over a century. In the context of statistical image processing, violation of the criterion is especially detrimental to the estimation of the separation between the sources, and modern far-field superresolution techniques rely on suppressing the emission of close sources to enhance the localization precision. Using quantum optics, quantum metrology, and statistical analysis, here we show that, even if two close incoherent sources emit simultaneously, measurements with linear optics and photon counting can estimate their separation from the far field almost as precisely as conventional methods do for isolated sources, rendering Rayleigh’s criterion irrelevant to the problem. Our results demonstrate that superresolution can be achieved not only for fluorophores but also for stars.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.6.031033 |
| spellingShingle | Mankei Tsang Ranjith Nair Xiao-Ming Lu Quantum Theory of Superresolution for Two Incoherent Optical Point Sources Physical Review X |
| title | Quantum Theory of Superresolution for Two Incoherent Optical Point Sources |
| title_full | Quantum Theory of Superresolution for Two Incoherent Optical Point Sources |
| title_fullStr | Quantum Theory of Superresolution for Two Incoherent Optical Point Sources |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantum Theory of Superresolution for Two Incoherent Optical Point Sources |
| title_short | Quantum Theory of Superresolution for Two Incoherent Optical Point Sources |
| title_sort | quantum theory of superresolution for two incoherent optical point sources |
| url | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.6.031033 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mankeitsang quantumtheoryofsuperresolutionfortwoincoherentopticalpointsources AT ranjithnair quantumtheoryofsuperresolutionfortwoincoherentopticalpointsources AT xiaominglu quantumtheoryofsuperresolutionfortwoincoherentopticalpointsources |