Towards Entangled and Squeezed Quantum X-Rays
Abstract
X-ray nanoimaging are indispensable technologies that have revolutionized interdisciplinary sciences and engineering over the past two decades. Advancements in coherent x-ray light sources and lensless computational imaging algorithms enable nanoscale probing of materials and processing, improving our understanding of their structures, properties, and dynamics. However, the resolution achievable in practice depends on the attainable image contrast, which is limited by the material damage thresholds under ionizing short-wavelength radiation. Soft materials and biological specimens have low damage thresholds; therefore, they are especially challenging to be imaged at high resolutions—a well-known dose-contrast-resolution conundrum. Overcoming this challenge requires exploring new ways to achieve high-resolution and high-contrast imaging at reduced doses. Utilizing the quantum states of light is a promising route to solve this problem by reducing the fundamental, quantum-limited shot-noise floor. This so-called quantum advantage has been successfully demonstrated in visible and infrared light, imaging cells with a signal-to-noise ratio beyond the classical limit associated with the illumination power. Nevertheless, practical means for creating quantum x-ray light are nearly nonexistent. The only method known to the field utilizes the x-ray spontaneous parametric down-conversion process in crystals, which has an extremely low conversion efficiency and only works for hard x-rays. This proposal aims to tackle this challenge by exploring novel approaches to generating bright, nonclassical shortwavelength vacuum- and extreme-ultraviolet light, potentially extending the technologies into the soft x-ray regime in the future. The objective is to perform early-phase, proof-of-concept studies on three alternative and independent routes leading to entangled or squeezed photons. The approaches to be investigated include quantum frequency conversion, cascaded harmonic generation, and high harmonic generation with amplitude or phase squeezing. The successful implementation of the proposed concepts for generating nonclassical short-wavelength light would enable quantum-enhanced x-ray technologies, paving the way to realizing future low-dose quantum x-ray microscopy
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 29, 2024
- Source ID
- FA95502310234
Entities
People
- Chen-Ting Liao
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Regents of the University of Colorado
- United States Air Force