How Quantum-Inspired Photonics Solves LiDAR Solar Noise
Bristol researchers create a far sensing radar using “quantum-inspired” technology.
The University of Bristol's engineers and physicists invented a revolutionary rangefinding gadget that combines conventional laser power with quantum mechanics' noise resistance. The study introduces a “quantum-inspired” method that blocks solar noise and bad weather to accurately measure distances. This method may transform driverless automobiles and hidden military sensors.
Bringing Quantum and Classical Together
Entanglement, or the “spooky” relationship between particles, has long been sought by quantum metrology to improve sensing. Quantum lighting has been lauded for its ability to distinguish signals from heavy background noise. However, genuine quantum systems have a debilitating “brightness limitation”. These sources are dim, which limits their usage to short distances or controlled laboratory environments as generating entangled photon pairs is complex and often limited by multi-photon emissions.
To overcome this problem, Weijie Nie and John G. Rarity led the Bristol team in creating a classical laser-based energy-time correlated source. This “quantum-inspired” technique surpasses standard quantum sources in brightness by more than six orders of magnitude, or a million times, while keeping quantum systems' noise reduction benefits.
Accuracy in Field
Many ambitious field tests were conducted on the Bristol campus to test the system's capabilities. Researchers used a transmitter on the Queen's Building Balcony to direct a weak, 48-microwatt laser toward the Wills Memorial Building (WMB)'s outside wall, 154.8182 meters away.
The results were amazing. Even at low transmission power, the system measured within 0.1 mm with an integration time of 100 ms. With brightness augmentation, we increased detection distance from several meters in the lab to field tests between two buildings, according to the authors.
The crew tested Cabot Tower, 413.1 meters from the Wills Memorial Building, successfully. Even in typical single-channel settings where solar background noise entirely masked the signal, “quantum-inspired” correlations allowed the range peak to be easily recognized at these distances.
Tech Function: Frequency Agility
A “frequency-agile” pseudo-random source drives the innovation. Researchers used fiber chromatic dispersion to extend femtosecond laser pulses to nanoseconds. Then, an electro-optic intensity modulator (EOIM) “carved” these pulses into three frequency channels (A, B, and C).
The method encodes a pseudo-random pattern into these wavelengths' time to create a unique, interference-resistant signature. According to the sources, the system's Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) is based on a model that suppresses background noise and detector dark counts based on channel count (n). The trial employed three channels, but the researchers observed that commercial dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) might scale the system to 80 channels for better noise rejection. Multichannel suppression of dark and background numbers is evident, they said.
Beat the Elements
Optical rangefinding, especially LiDAR systems in self-driving cars, struggles in difficult environments. In overnight and daytime testing, the Bristol researchers tested the device under direct, bright dawn circumstances, thick cloud cover, and rain.
Solar background noise can blind most sensors, reaching almost three orders of magnitude higher than daylight signal power. Unlike a single-channel system, the Bristol system's multi-channel platform cut out solar "clutter," enabling rangefinding. Despite raindrop transmission loss, the device maintained accuracy for real-world remote sensing.
Secret Sensing and Future Uses
The technology impacts stealthy rangefinding beyond industrial and automotive applications. When the signal is distributed over numerous pseudo-random frequencies before being “compressed” to eliminate channel-selection information, background noise obscures laser peaks. The signal power is far lower than solar radiation, making it nearly impossible for an opponent to detect the system.
Quantum random number generators or randomized time delays could improve system security, according to the researchers. This is ideal for automotive LiDAR, where several car sensors must function together without interference, because to its low power consumption and crosstalk immunity.
The Quantum Engineering Technology Labs' EPSRC and Royal Society-funded research changes our understanding of optical sensing's boundaries. The researchers applied quantum physics to traditional gear to build a new way for long-range, high-precision sensing in the worst environments on Earth.