Quantum enhancement of a coherent ladar receiver using phase-sensitive amplification

Peter A. Wasilousky, Kevin H. Smith, Ryan Glasser, Geoffrey L. Burdge, Lee Burberry, Bill Deibner, Michael Silver, Robert C. Peach, Christopher Visone, Prem Kumar, Oo Kaw Lim, Gideon Alon, Chao Hsiang Chen, Amar R. Bhagwat, Paritosh Manurkar, Michael Vasilyev, Muthiah Annamalai, Nikolai Stelmakh, Zachary Dutton, Saikat GuhaCesar Santivañez, Jian Chen, Marcus Silva, Will Kelly, Jeffrey H. Shapiro, Ranjith Nair, Brent J. Yen, Franco N.C. Wong

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

We demonstrate a balanced-homodyne LADAR receiver employing a phase-sensitive amplifier (PSA) to raise the effective photon detection efficiency (PDE) to nearly 100%. Since typical LADAR receivers suffer from losses in the receive optical train that routinely limit overall PDE to less than 50% thus degrading SNR, PSA can provide significant improvement through amplification with noise figure near 0 dB. Receiver inefficiencies arise from sub-unity quantum efficiency, array fill factors, signal-local oscillator mixing efficiency (in coherent receivers), etc. The quantum-enhanced LADAR receiver described herein is employed in target discrimination scenarios as well as in imaging applications. We present results showing the improvement in detection performance achieved with a PSA, and discuss the performance advantage when compared to the use of a phase-insensitive amplifier, which cannot amplify noiselessly.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationQuantum Communications and Quantum Imaging IX
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes
EventQuantum Communications and Quantum Imaging IX - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Aug 24 2011Aug 25 2011

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8163
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceQuantum Communications and Quantum Imaging IX
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period8/24/118/25/11

Keywords

  • LADAR
  • balanced homodyne detection
  • coherent detection
  • heterodyne LADAR
  • phase-sensitive amplification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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