Ray-tracing with quantum correlated photons to image a 3D scene

To capture the 3D information of a scene, conventional techniques utilizing classical light often require multiple 2D images of the scene to be captured from different perspectives, such as in integral imaging. In this work we demonstrate the reconstruction of a scene's 3D information through ray-tracing using quantum correlated photon pairs generated through the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). Taking advantage of the position and momentum correlation of the SPDC photons and performing time-correlation measurements on the photon pairs, with the two photons detected in different image planes, both position and momentum information of the photons can be gained and its propagation trajectory reconstructed. With this information on every photon pair, we were able to demonstrate refocusing, depth of field adjustment and parallax visualization of a 3D scene. The high photon correlation and low photon flux from a quantum source also makes our technique well suited for 3D imaging of light sensitive samples.