The Problem of No Return Photon Ranging Measurements with Entangled Photons

Abstract

We introduce a fascinating problem of light detection and ranging measurement without necessitating the return of the photon directed towards the target or object. We approach this challenging problem using quantum entanglement - an entangled pair of photons; one photon is sent toward the target or object, while the other is directed into a medium, which undergoes continuous measurements. We assume the light-matter interaction at the target such that the quantum state collapse is probabilistically biased. We present thought experiments and measurement schemes to conduct correlation measurements and examine the methodology of these measurements to estimate the target's range, using a maximally entangled Bell state ($|\Psi^+\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} (|H_1V_2\rangle + |V_1H_2\rangle)$) as an example. When the photon interacts with the target, the Bell state undergoes biased decoherence or state collapse, leaving a signature in the spatial correlation G(x) quantity.