Mid-infrared single-pixel imaging at the single-photon level

Yinqi Wang, Kun Huang (), Jianan Fang, Ming Yan, E Wu and Heping Zeng ()
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Yinqi Wang: State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University
Kun Huang: State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University
Jianan Fang: State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University
Ming Yan: State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University
E Wu: State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University
Heping Zeng: State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Single-pixel cameras have recently emerged as promising alternatives to multi-pixel sensors due to reduced costs and superior durability, which are particularly attractive for mid-infrared (MIR) imaging pertinent to applications including industry inspection and biomedical diagnosis. To date, MIR single-pixel photon-sparse imaging has yet been realized, which urgently calls for high-sensitivity optical detectors and high-fidelity spatial modulators. Here, we demonstrate a MIR single-photon computational imaging with a single-element silicon detector. The underlying methodology relies on nonlinear structured detection, where encoded time-varying pump patterns are optically imprinted onto a MIR object image through sum-frequency generation. Simultaneously, the MIR radiation is spectrally translated into the visible region, thus permitting infrared single-photon upconversion detection. Then, the use of advanced algorithms of compressed sensing and deep learning allows us to reconstruct MIR images under sub-Nyquist sampling and photon-starving illumination. The presented paradigm of single-pixel upconversion imaging is featured with single-pixel simplicity, single-photon sensitivity, and room-temperature operation, which would establish a new path for sensitive imaging at longer infrared wavelengths or terahertz frequencies, where high-sensitivity photon counters and high-fidelity spatial modulators are typically hard to access.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36815-3

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