Quantum imaging of biological organisms through spatial and polarization entanglement

Abstract: Quantum imaging can potentially provide certain advantages over classical imaging. Thus far, however, the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) are poor; the resolvable pixel counts are low; biological organisms have not been imaged; birefringence has not been quantified. Here, we introduce quantum imaging by coincidence from entanglement (ICE). Utilizing spatially and polarization entangled photon pairs, ICE exhibits higher SNRs, greater resolvable pixel counts, imaging of biological organisms, and ghost birefringence quantification; it also enables 25 times greater suppression of stray light than classical imaging. ICE can potentially empower quantum imaging towards new applications in life sciences and remote sensing.