The usability of the optical parametric amplification of light for high-angular-resolution imaging and fast astrometry

Abstract

High angular resolution imaging is crucial for many applications in modern astronomy and astrophysics. The fundamental diffraction limit constrains the resolving power of both ground-based and spaceborne telescopes. The recent idea of a Quantum Telescope based on the Optical Parametric Amplification (OPA) of the light is aimed at bypassing this limit for imaging of extended sources by an order of magnitude or more. We present an updated scheme of an OPA-based device and a more accurate model of signal amplification by such device. A semiclassical model we present predicts that the noise in such a system will form so called light speckles due to the light interference in the optical path. Based on this model, we analyzed the efficiency of the OPA in increasing the angular resolution of imaging of extended targets and precise localization of a distant point source. According to our new model, OPA is offering a gain in resolved imaging in comparison to classical optics. In the same time, we found that OPA can be more efficient in localizing a single distant point source in comparison to classical telescopes.

Applications of Type I diffracted photons in astronomical imaging and the insensitivity of QCE image sensor to atmospheric turbulence

“…Another method to overcome the diffraction limit of a telescope was the use of light amplification [7] or a photon cloning process [8][9][10][11][12][13] ("quantum telescope" [9][10][11]). Photon amplification by stimulated emission is a noisy process due to spontaneous emission and the resolution gain is cancelled.…”