Single-photon light detection and ranging(lidar)offers single-photon sensitivity and picosecond timing resolution,which is desirable for high-precision three-dimensional(3 D)imaging over long distances.Despite importa...Single-photon light detection and ranging(lidar)offers single-photon sensitivity and picosecond timing resolution,which is desirable for high-precision three-dimensional(3 D)imaging over long distances.Despite important progress,further extending the imaging range presents enormous challenges because only a few echo photons return and are mixed with strong noise.Here,we tackled these challenges by constructing a high-efficiency,low-noise coaxial single-photon lidar system and developing a long-range-tailored computational algorithm that provides high photon efficiency and good noise tolerance.Using this technique,we experimentally demonstrated active single-photon 3 D imaging at a distance of up to 45 km in an urban environment,with a low return-signal level of^1 photon per pixel.Our system is feasible for imaging at a few hundreds of kilometers by refining the setup,and thus represents a step towards low-power and high-resolution lidar over extra-long ranges.展开更多
基金National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFB0504300)National Natural Science Foundation of China(61771443)+4 种基金Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(2019SHZDZX01)Anhui Initiative in Quantum Information TechnologiesShanghai Science and Technology Development Funds(18JC1414700)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(WK2340000083)Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS(2018492)。
文摘Single-photon light detection and ranging(lidar)offers single-photon sensitivity and picosecond timing resolution,which is desirable for high-precision three-dimensional(3 D)imaging over long distances.Despite important progress,further extending the imaging range presents enormous challenges because only a few echo photons return and are mixed with strong noise.Here,we tackled these challenges by constructing a high-efficiency,low-noise coaxial single-photon lidar system and developing a long-range-tailored computational algorithm that provides high photon efficiency and good noise tolerance.Using this technique,we experimentally demonstrated active single-photon 3 D imaging at a distance of up to 45 km in an urban environment,with a low return-signal level of^1 photon per pixel.Our system is feasible for imaging at a few hundreds of kilometers by refining the setup,and thus represents a step towards low-power and high-resolution lidar over extra-long ranges.
