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PreprintarXiv licencearXiv

Development of quantum technologies for optical/infrared interferometry

  • John D. Monnier
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Abstract

Quantum technologies may revolutionize optical interferometry through new means to distribute and preserve electric-field amplitude and phase correlations between widely separated telescopes. After reviewing existing techniques, I survey proposed quantum-sensing and quantum-networking applications and highlight recent laboratory demonstrations of key building blocks. By easing field-transport demands for baselines beyond ∼1 km, quantum-enhanced interferometry could enable sub-milliarcsecond imaging and microarcsecond-class differential astrometry. That said, "going quantum" is not a magic shortcut to sensitivity because many of the most compelling science cases remain photon- and turbulence-limited. I therefore emphasize the practical constraints -- loss, bandwidth, coherence time, synchronization, and wavelength limits of quantum interfaces -- that must also be overcome to make these capabilities useful for astronomy, whether deployed on the ground or from space.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@misc{monnier2026development,
  title = {{Development of quantum technologies for optical/infrared interferometry}},
  author = {John D. Monnier},
  howpublished = {arXiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.04311},
  eprint = {2609.04311},
  archivePrefix = {arXiv},
  url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.04311},
}
RIS
TY  - UNPB
TI  - Development of quantum technologies for optical/infrared interferometry
AU  - John D. Monnier
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/03
PB  - arXiv
DO  - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.04311
UR  - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.04311
AB  - Quantum technologies may revolutionize optical interferometry through new means to distribute and preserve electric-field amplitude and phase correlations between widely separated telescopes. After reviewing existing techniques, I survey proposed quantum-sensing and quantum-networking applications and highlight recent laboratory demonstrations of key building blocks. By easing field-transport demands for baselines beyond ∼1 km, quantum-enhanced interferometry could enable sub-milliarcsecond imaging and microarcsecond-class differential astrometry. That said, "going quantum" is not a magic shortcut to sensitivity because many of the most compelling science cases remain photon- and turbulence-limited. I therefore emphasize the practical constraints -- loss, bandwidth, coherence time, synchronization, and wavelength limits of quantum interfaces -- that must also be overcome to make these capabilities useful for astronomy, whether deployed on the ground or from space.
ER  -