Superresolution in interferometric imaging of strong thermal sources

Yunkai Wang, Yujie Zhang, Virginia O. Lorenz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Imaging using interferometer arrays based on the Van Cittert-Zernike theorem has been widely used in astronomical observation. Recently it was shown that superresolution can be achieved in this system for imaging two weak thermal point sources. Using quantum estimation theory, we consider the fundamental quantum limit of resolving the transverse separation of two strong thermal point sources using interferometer arrays, and show that the resolution is not limited by the longest baseline. We propose measurement techniques using linear beam splitters and photon-number-resolving detection to achieve our bound. Our results demonstrate that superresolution for resolving two thermal point sources of any strength can be achieved in interferometer arrays.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number022613
JournalPhysical Review A
Volume104
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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