Noise-tolerant correlated coincidence imaging based on supercorrelated light at 1550 nm.

Yan, Yu; Li, Jiamin; Li, Ruikang; Guo, Yanqiang; Qiu, Jiang; Han, Shuangping; Liu, Zihua; Hu, Jianyong et al. · Sci Adv · 2026

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Single photon-level imaging at 1550 nanometers is a key driver for crucial advancements in the next-generation laser detection technology. This cutting-edge approach plays a vital role in space ranging, target recognition, and three-dimensional remote sensing. However, it has faced severe challenges such as insufficient noise-tolerant performance. Here, we introduced noise-tolerant correlated coincidence imaging (CCI) based on supercorrelated light (SCL). The light source, generated through nonlinear interaction between a pulsed laser and a photonic crystal fiber, exhibits a broader power-law photon number probability distribution and extremely strong photon correlation [with second-order correlation function <i>g</i><sup>(2)</sup>(0) up to 18,166]. Our noise-tolerant CCI can resist random environmental noise up to 100,000 times stronger than the echo signal photons. SCL offers an exceptionally strong noise tolerance for single photon-level imaging in extreme environments with intense noise, paving the way for the future development of extremely sensitive light detection.