Title: NIST Develops Quantum Bioimaging Tools Using Entangled Photons
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed new quantum bioimaging tools that utilize entangled photons to enhance biological measurements. These tools, developed by NIST’s Biosystems and Biomaterials Division (BBD), demonstrate that time-energy entangled photons can maintain their entangled nature when propagating through millimeters of biological media, such as skim milk, 2% milk, and chicken breast tissue.
The compact Franson-type interferometer developed by NIST consists of two imbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometers, each with a “long” and “short” arm. Entangled photon pairs are stochastically split between the two interferometers. The device uses variable waveplates to control the length of the long arms with sub-wavelength precision.
To demonstrate time-energy entanglement, NIST researchers recorded the coincidence rates of photons pairs in which both took a long or short path. The contrast of the interferometer, calculated as (max – min) / (max + min) coincidence count rates, was used to qualify the entanglement. Results showed greater than 90% contrast in various biological media, indicating successful entanglement preservation.
This development has the potential to greatly improve detection limits for fluorescence and label-free imaging, revealing refractive, diffractive, absorptive, and fluorescent properties of biological samples with enhanced sensitivity and resolution.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/quantum-bioimaging
Keywords: Entangled photons, Quantum nature, Super-resolution, Interferometer, Time-energy entanglement
