Real-Time Imaging of Quantum Entanglement

• DOI: 10.1038/srep01914
• Publication Date: 2013-05-29T09:08:42Z
• Authors: Robert Fickler; Mario Krenn; Radek Lapkiewicz; Sven Ramelow; Anton Zeilinger
• Keywords: Quantum optics; Quantum Physics; Photons; Quantum information; Light; 103025 Quantenmechanik; 103026 Quantenoptik; Imaging and sensing; FOS: Physical sciences; 01 natural sciences; Article; Molecular Imaging; 103026 Quantum optics; Optical physics; 0103 physical sciences; 103025 Quantum mechanics; Quantum Theory; Quantum Physics (quant-ph); Physics - Optics; Optics (physics.optics)

Quantum Entanglement is widely regarded as one of the most prominent features of quantum mechanics and quantum information science. Although, photonic entanglement is routinely studied in many experiments nowadays, its signature has been out of the grasp for real-time imaging. Here we show that modern technology, namely triggered intensified charge coupled device (ICCD) cameras are fast and sensitive enough to image in real-time the effect of the measurement of one photon on its entangled partner. To quantitatively verify the non-classicality of the measurements we determine the detected photon number and error margin from the registered intensity image within a certain region. Additionally, the use of the ICCD camera allows us to demonstrate the high flexibility of the setup in creating any desired spatial-mode entanglement, which suggests as well that visual imaging in quantum optics not only provides a better intuitive understanding of entanglement but will improve applications of quantum science.<br/>Two supplementary movies available at the data conservancy project<br/>