Quantum-enhanced single-photon lidar captures ultra-detailed 3D images from one kilometer away

Breakthroughs in laser imaging have allowed researchers to capture very detailed 3D images from unprecedented distances, with a thin enough resolution to identify individual facial features from more than three football fields. The system uses laser power low enough to be completely safe, opening up new possibilities for security, infrastructure monitoring and remote sensing applications.

International research teams from the UK and the US have developed a lidar system that can detect photons of individual photons with extraordinary accuracy, allowing them to build high-resolution 3D images of objects up to one kilometer. The system achieves millimeter-level accuracy in vast sunlight, which is significantly improved over previous technologies.

“Our system uses single-photon detectors about twice as efficient as detectors deployed in similar lidar systems reported by other research groups, and has a system that is at least 10 times better timing resolution,” said the study leader. Aongus McCarthy said. author. “These improvements allow the imaging system to collect more scattered photons from the target and obtain higher spatial resolution.”

The study, published in the journal Optica, demonstrates that the system can solve the function of a distance from 325 meters to 1 mm, roughly equivalent to distinguishing the ridge of the fingerprint from the length of the three football fields. This detailed information can change applications from infrastructure monitoring to security and monitoring.

At the heart of the system is a supersensitive quantum detector developed by MIT and NASA’s JET Propulsion Laboratory, called Superconducting Nanosite Single Photon Detector (SNSPD). The temperature of the detector operates at a temperature that just exceeds absolute zero, allowing it to detect individual light particles with unprecedented efficiency.

During a field test conducted on the Heriot-Watt University campus, the team successfully captured detailed 3D images under various conditions. Even in spacious daylight, the system can distinguish between depth differences of only one millimeter (as to the thickness of the credit card). This accuracy can be invaluable for detecting subtle changes in buildings or natural structures that may indicate potential safety hazards.

“This type of measurement system may lead to improved security and surveillance systems, for example, to obtain detailed depth images through smoke or mist and chaotic scenes,” McCarthy explained. The technology shows hidden in leaves or camouflage nets,” he said. The special hope for imaging objects behind obstacles is that this feature is valuable for both security applications and search operations.

The system operates in the infrared portion of the spectrum at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, allowing it to use very low power levels while keeping the eye safe – crucial for any technology for real-world deployment. The average power used is less than 3.5 milliwatts, which is comparable to that of a typical laser pointer.

Going forward, the research team plans to test the system at greater distances, up to 10 kilometers, and explore its effectiveness under challenging conditions such as smoke and fog. They are also working on advanced computing methods to speed up data analysis and enable imaging of more distant scenarios.

This development represents an important step in remote sensing technology, providing unprecedented details and scope while maintaining safety standards. These implications cover many areas, from infrastructure monitoring and security to environmental sensing and autonomous vehicle navigation.

The ability of the system to capture long-distance details while using eye-safe power levels makes it particularly valuable for applications where safety and accuracy are critical, such as monitoring critical infrastructure or search and rescue operations in complex environments Provide help.

The study was supported by several organizations, including the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, the European Research Council, DARPA and NASA, highlighting international awareness of its potential impact in various sectors.

For organizations interested in implementing the technology, McCarthy stressed that the flexibility of the system allows customization based on specific needs, balancing distance, laser power level, data acquisition time and depth resolution.

This breakthrough shows how quantum technology augments the application of the real world, thus breaking through possible boundaries in remote sensing and 3D imaging. As development continues, we may soon see these systems deployed in applications ranging from infrastructure security to environmental monitoring, marking a new chapter in which we observe and measure the world around us.