Subdiffraction incoherent optical imaging via spatial-mode demultiplexing
Abstract
I propose a spatial-mode demultiplexing (SPADE) measurement scheme for the far-field imaging of spatially incoherent optical sources. For any object too small to be resolved by direct imaging under the diffraction limit, I show that SPADE can estimate its second or higher moments much more precisely than direct imaging can fundamentally do in the presence of photon shot noise. I also prove that SPADE can approach the optimal precision allowed by quantum mechanics in estimating the location and scale parameters of a subdiffraction object. Realizable with far-field linear optics and photon counting, SPADE is expected to find applications in both fluorescence microscopy and astronomy.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1608.03211,
title = {Subdiffraction incoherent optical imaging via spatial-mode demultiplexing},
author = {Mankei Tsang},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1608.03211},
year = {2017}
}
Comments
v1: first draft. v2: added a numerical example and made minor changes. v3: minor adjustments, submitted. v4: published in NJP. 18 pages, 2 tables, and 6 figures