2024/12/12 by Justin C. Goodrich, Ryan Mahon, Goodrich, Justin C. +26
Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2412.09833
Quantum imaging encompasses a broad range of methods that exploit the quantum\nproperties of light to capture information about an object. One such approach\ninvolves using a two-photon quantum state, where only one photon interacts with\nthe object being imaged while its entangled partner carries spatial or temporal\ninformation. To implement this technique, it is necessary to generate specific\nquantum states of light and detect photons at the single-photon level. While\nthis method has been successfully demonstrated in the visible electromagnetic\nspectrum, extending it to X-rays has faced significant challenges due to the\ndifficulties in producing a sufficient rate of X-ray photon pairs and detecting\nthem with adequate resolution. Here, we demonstrate record high rates of\ncorrelated X-ray photon pairs produced via a spontaneous parametric\ndown-conversion process and we employ these photons to perform quantum\ncorrelation imaging of several objects, including a biological sample (E.\ncardamomum seedpod). Notably, we report an unprecedented detection rate of\nabout 6,300 pairs per hour and the observation of energy anti-correlation for\nthe X-ray photon pairs. We also present a detailed analysis of the properties\nof the down-converted X-ray photons, as well as a comprehensive study of the\ncorrelation imaging formation, including a study of distortions and\ncorrections. These results mark a substantial advancement in X-ray quantum\nimaging, expanding the possibilities of X-ray quantum optical technologies, and\nillustrating the pathway towards enhancing biological imaging with reduced\nradiation doses.\n