Quantum imaging with undetected light, wavefront shaping and aberration correction

Abstract

A new imaging modality that combines Quantum imaging with undetected light (QIUL) with wavefront shaping techniques is presented. Chemical-selective imaging techniques provide morphological and molecular data from biological tissues without external labels. Infrared (IR) imaging is particularly effective for studying tumors due to its ability to detect characteristic absorption lines. However, traditional IR imaging faces challenges like poor signal-to-noise ratios. Quantum imaging with undetected light (QIUL) offers a promising alternative by using entangled photon pairs, where near-infrared photons interact with the sample, and their visible-light counterparts are detected. To enhance QIUL, a nonlinear Michelson interferometer was realized that incorporates a spatial light modulator (SLM) for wavefront manipulation and 3D imaging. Techniques like digital optical phase conjugation (DOPC) for correction of system-inherent aberrations and double helix point spread functions for precise depth-resolved 3D imaging are presented, paving the way for label-free tissue classification and tumor detection.