Structuring Quantum Light for Microscopy

Introduction

Optical microscopy, perhaps the most important tool in biomedical investigation and medical diagnosis, provides structural and functional information about biological specimens in a non-invasive and non-ionizing way. However, this technique still faces the challenge of imaging small and weakly scattering objects (e.g. a single cell) embedded inside complex biological tissues, causing optical aberrations and scattering.

Challenges in Imaging

This problem is even more critical in the case of samples that cannot be labelled or do not spontaneously emit light. In SQiMic, I will go one major conceptual step beyond the current paradigm by merging the fields of quantum imaging and light structuring to build a new quantum 'toolbox' for microscopy.

Novel Approach

My novel approach is based on my pioneering work showing that wavefront shaping techniques, initially developed for laser light manipulation, can also shape higher orders of optical coherence. This allows deterministic tailoring of quantum properties of light such as entanglement.

Quantum Imaging Concepts

I will use this approach to leverage some genuine quantum imaging concepts such as:

1. Quantum holography
2. Quantum interferences
3. Quantum illumination

These concepts will help break the current limits of fluorescent-free classical microscopy and image complex objects with higher resolution, better contrast, reduced aberrations, and less noise. Ultimately, I aim to deliver a quantum-enhanced microscope with unprecedented performance that can be used as a practical tool for biological imaging without labelling the specimens or relying on their possible ability to emit light.

Methodological Framework

From a methodological standpoint, SQiMic will bridge knowledge from:

• Quantum imaging
• Light structuring
• Adaptive optics
• Wavefront shaping
• Sensor technologies
• Computational imaging

It will deliver a whole new class of optical imaging methods based on quantum light manipulation and detection. Its long-term core applications are in life science and biomedical imaging, with potential extension to quantum information science.