QuSeC-TAQS: Distributed Entangled Quantum-Enhanced Interferometric Imaging for Telescopy and Metrology

QuSeC-TAQS：用于望远镜和计量的分布式纠缠量子增强干涉成像

• 批准号: 2326803
• 负责人: Brian Smith
• 金额: $ 100万
• 依托单位: University of Oregon Eugene
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-01 至 2025-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2326803&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: QuSeC; TAQS; Distributed; Entangled; Quantum

Improved resolution in astronomical observations at radio frequencies has enabled scientists to make the first images of black hole event horizons and detailed images of quasars, as demonstrated by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, providing new insights into the structure and dynamics of some of the most puzzling objects in the universe. However, many features of astronomical objects can only be observed in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Improved resolution in the visible regime would accelerate the search for exoplanets and the study of their atmospheres, enable resolved imaging of black hole event horizons in the near-infrared, and facilitate imaging of planet-forming disks and stellar surfaces beyond the Sun. The fundamental limit to the resolution of a telescope is set by the ratio of the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation detected and the diameter of the collection aperture, thus driving efforts to make large aperture telescopes. By bringing together the fields collected at distant apertures and interfering them, one can increase the effective aperture size of a telescope to the distance between the apertures. The EHT utilized a network of radio telescopes across the Earth, with separations on the order of thousands of kilometers, currently infeasible for visible wavelengths. This project aims to develop extended baseline interferometry in visible wavelengths by performing the first quantum-enabled imaging of astronomical objects. The goal is to pioneer the development of practical astronomical interferometers with quantum-enhanced performance. Recent theoretical proposals have shown that by interfering collected light from astronomical sources with entangled states of light distributed between distant telescopes can enable effective aperture sizes not possible with classical means. Proof-of-concept experiments in this project will verify the basic operating principles of a quantum-enabled imaging system that can ultimately be scaled up to demonstrate a quantum advantage over conventional systems, providing valuable insights for a larger-scale implementation. Theoretical work in this project is focused on modeling realistic experiments, developing benchmarking tools and metrics for comparing quantum and classical sensing strategies, and extending quantum protocols. Tabletop experiments with simulated astronomical sources will be used to verify theoretical bounds of quantum and classical performance, and demonstrate the first quantum-enabled interferometric imaging of astronomical sources. This project brings together an interdisciplinary team of experts from astronomy, electrical engineering, physics and quantum information science who will work convergently to perform the first quantum-enabled imaging of astronomical objects. The largest payoff in the long term would be the development of practical astronomical interferometers with quantum-enhanced performance opening a new window on the observable universe. Shorter-term outcomes will be a deeper understanding of distributed quantum optical sensing, which may be applicable in diverse scenarios. Moreover, the methods developed during the project will be applicable to a broad range of applications beyond astronomy. For example, distributing entanglement between the telescope apertures is highly relevant to quantum networking, distributed quantum computing, and quantum communications. This project supports the training of students in a multidisciplinary collaboration, the expansion and development of courses in quantum information science, and public outreach activities to encourage young people and minorities to explore science and technology. This project is funded by the NSF Quantum Sensing Challenges for Transformative Advances in Quantum Systems (QuSeC-TAQS) program, the Division of Physics, and the Division of Astronomical Sciences.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

正如事件地平线范围望远镜（EHT）合作所证明的，在无线电频率下的天文观测分辨率改善使科学家们制作了黑洞事件视野的第一批图像和详细的类星体图像，从而为宇宙中一些最令人困惑的对象提供了新的见解。但是，只有在电磁谱的可见范围内才能观察到天文对象的许多特征。可见的策略中的分辨率提高将加速寻找系外行星及其大气的研究，可以在近红外的黑洞事件地平线上解决分解成像，并促进对行星形成的磁盘和恒星表面的成像。望远镜分辨率的基本限制是由检测到的电磁辐射的波长和收集孔径的直径设置的，因此推动了制造大型孔径望远镜的努力。通过将收集在远处的孔中收集的磁场组合在一起，并干扰它们，可以将望远镜的有效孔径大小增加到孔之间的距离。 EHT利用了整个地球的射电望远镜网络，其分离为数千公里，目前对于可见的波长来说是不可行的。该项目旨在通过执行对天文对象的第一个量子成像来开发可见波长中的扩展基线干涉法。目的是开拓实用的天文干涉仪以量子增强的性能的发展。最近的理论提案表明，通过干扰从天文来源的收集光，其纠缠的光在遥远望远镜之间分布的光状态可以通过经典手段使有效的孔径大小不可能。该项目中的概念验证实验将验证启用量子成像系统的基本操作原理，该系统最终可以扩展以证明比传统系统具有量子优势，从而为大规模实施提供了宝贵的见解。该项目中的理论工作集中在建模现实实验，开发基准测试工具和指标，以比较量子和经典感应策略以及扩展量子协议。具有模拟天文源的桌面实验将用于验证量子和经典性能的理论界限，并证明天文来源的第一个启用量子的干涉成像。该项目汇集了一个来自天文学，电气工程，物理和量子信息科学的专家跨学科团队，他们将互动地努力执行对天文对象的第一个量子成像。从长远来看，最大的回报是开发实用的天文干涉仪，其量子增强性能在可观察到的宇宙上打开了一个新窗口。较短的期望将对分布式量子光学传感进行更深入的了解，这可能适用于各种情况。此外，该项目期间开发的方法将适用于超越天文学的广泛应用。例如，在望远镜孔之间分配纠缠与量子网络，分布式量子计算和量子通信高度相关。该项目支持在跨学科合作，量子信息科学课程的扩展和开发以及公共宣传活动的培训，以鼓励年轻人和少数民族探索科学和技术。 该项目是由NSF量子传感挑战资助的量子系统（QUSEC-TAQS）计划，物理学部和天文学科学司的变革性进步的挑战。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是通过该基金会的知识分子功能和广泛影响的评估来评估Criteria的评估。