The Breakthrough of Quantum Detection Technologies in Underwater Monitoring

Category Engineering

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Researchers from Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh have developed a LIDAR system that uses quantum detection technology to acquire real-time 3D images while fully submerged in water, even in low-light conditions. The technology allows underwater inspections, monitoring, surveying, and more without human interference and the advantages of traditional imaging techniques.


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In a remarkable breakthrough for industry, researchers from Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh have developed a LIDAR system that uses quantum detection technology to acquire real-time 3D images while fully submerged underwater that can capture detailed, 3D information even in extremely low-light conditions found underwater.

Submerging LIDAR systems in water is not an easy feat because water can limit the light and scatter particles, making it difficult to capture clear images. However, single-photon detection, a quantum-based technique, allows very high penetration and works even in low-light conditions.

The technique can work in water depths of up to 10 meters

In their recent experiments, described in the journal Optics Express, the researchers placed an entire single-photon LIDAR system in a large water tank to create a real-time 3D image of the scene of interest. The technology allows the researchers to image the scene even in low light conditions, which is a significant advantage for underwater applications.

The LIDAR system uses a green pulsed laser source to illuminate the scene of interest. An array of single-photon detectors detect the reflected pulsed illumination, allowing ultrafast low-light detection and greatly reducing measurement time in photon-starved environments such as highly attenuating water. By taking time-of-flight measurements with picosecond timing resolution, the researchers can routinely resolve millimeter details of the targets in the scene.

The LIDAR system uses a green pulsed laser source to illuminate the scene of interest

The approach also allows the researchers to distinguish the photons reflected by the target from those reflected by particles in the water, making it particularly suitable for performing 3D imaging in highly turbid waters where optical scattering can ruin image contrast and resolution.

The fact that this approach requires thousands of single-photon detectors, all producing many hundreds of events per second, makes it extremely challenging to retrieve and process the data necessary to reconstruct the 3D image in a short time, especially for real-time applications. However, the team developed algorithms specifically for imaging in highly scattering conditions and applied them in conjunction with widely available graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware.

The detection of single photons can enable faster image processing

Aurora Maccarone, a Royal Academy of Engineering research fellow from Heriot-Watt University, explained the potential applications of this technology in a release provided by Optica: "This technology could be useful for a wide range of applications. For example, it could be used to inspect underwater installations, such as underwater wind farm cables and the submerged structure of the turbines. Underwater LIDAR can also be used for monitoring or surveying submerged archaeology sites and for security and defense applications." .

The team used algorithms specifically for imaging in highly scattering conditions

Maccarone further stated, "This work aims to make quantum detection technologies available for underwater applications, which means that we will be able to image the scene of interest in very low-light conditions. This will impact the use of offshore cable and energy installations, which are used by everyone. This technology could also allow monitoring without the presence of humans, which would mean less pollution and a less invasive presence in the marine environment." .

The technology does not require the presence of humans for assessments

The team's new technique buiilds upon over a decade of research in quantum-based imaging and offers numerous advantages over traditional imaging techniques used underwater. The images produced by this LIDAR system are not affected by the water environment, paving the way for more sophisticated 3D imaging techniques to be used in underwater assessments.


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