US 12,436,028 B2
System and method for imaging objects using entangled photons
Gary Vacon, East Falmouth, MA (US); and Kristin A. Rauschenbach, Franconia, NH (US)
Assigned to Qubit Moving and Storage, LLC
Filed by Qubit Moving and Storage, LLC, Franconia, NH (US)
Filed on May 24, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/674,453.
Application 18/674,453 is a continuation of application No. 17/966,796, filed on Oct. 15, 2022, granted, now 12,007,272.
Prior Publication US 2024/0310210 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. G01J 1/42 (2006.01)
CPC G01J 1/4228 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for imaging objects using entangled photons, the system comprising:
a) an optical source configured to generate a set of four entangled photons that are correlated in time, wherein detection of any one pair of the four entangled photons being correlated in time indicates that all four of the entangled photons are entangled, the output of the optical source being configured to couple a first photon of the set of four entangled photons to a first path, a second photon of the set of four entangled photons to a second path, a third photon of the set of four entangled photons to a third path and a fourth photon of the set of four entangled photons to a fourth path;
b) a spatial sampling system positioned in the first path and configured to detect the first photon of the set of four entangled photons;
c) a first detector positioned in the second path and configured to detect the second photon of the set of four entangled photons;
d) a first object plane positioned in the second path between the optical source and the first detector, wherein a first object positioned at the first object plane produces a modulation of the second photon of the set of four entangled photons;
e) a second detector positioned in the third path and configured to detect the third photon of the set of four entangled photons;
f) a second object plane positioned in the third path between the optical source and the second detector, wherein a second object positioned at the second object plane produces a modulation of the third photon of the set of four entangled photons;
g) a third detector positioned in the fourth path and configured to detect the fourth photon of the set of four entangled photons;
h) a third object plane positioned in the fourth path between the optical source and the third detector, wherein a third object positioned at the third object plane produces a modulation of the fourth photon of the set of four entangled photons;
i) a coincidence detector having inputs connected to outputs of the spatial sampling system, the first detector, the second detector and the third detector and configured to determine coincidences between a detection of the first photon of the set of four entangled photons and a detection of at least one of the second photon of the set of four entangled photons, the third photon of the set of four entangled photons, and the fourth photon of the set of four entangled photons; and
j) a processor having an input connected to an output of the coincidence detector, the processor being configured to generate image information about at least one of the first, second and third object using the determined coincidences.