FOQUOS research group

The project under the acronym FOQUOS (Thuringian Research Group on Quantum Optical Imaging with Entangled Photons) is a research group of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Ilmenau University of Technology funded by the Thüringer Aufbaubank (TAB).

The aim of the research group's investigations is to realize systems in imaging quantum optics that work by exploiting entangled photon pairs in two specific wavelength ranges. These are the mid-infrared region (MIR) between 2 µm and 10 µm wavelength and the short-wavelength spectral region of a few 10 nm in the ultraviolet or X-ray (XUV) range. Within the scope of the project, photon pairs are to be generated for both wavelength ranges, in which one photon is in the visible spectral range and the other photon is in the corresponding application range (MIR or XUV). Using entangled photon pairs, so-called ghost imaging can be performed. In this process, one photon interacts with the object to be measured, while the other photon is detected in parallel with spatial resolution.

One focus of the project is the control and evaluation electronics. The aim is to reduce the long measurement times between camera and detector that have been necessary up to now. The detection of both photons should take place in real time if possible. At the TU Ilmenau, circuit carriers on a ceramic basis (LTCC) are being realized to meet these requirements. The advantage here lies in the realization of very short interconnection paths of the individual components, which enable fast signal processing. The combination with thin-film glasses is investigated to increase the degree of integration and to verify the implementation of optical components.

Project leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens Müller
Scientific assistant: M. Sc. Björn Müller, Dr.-Ing. Shraddha Supreeti
Project duration: 03/2018 - 02/2021
Funding: Thüringer Aufbaubank