Zhuang Researches the Power of Quantum Radar

An article by Phys.org features research by ECE assistant professor Quntao Zhuang on the benefits of quantum radar. Zhuang, who is part of a team of UA and MIT researchers, had a paper published in Physical Review Letters which describes quantum radar and the obstacles that stand in the way of its development.

The Phys.org article describes how researchers determined that radar accuracy could be improved by stretching the pulses (bunches of photons) that are sent to a target. This involved sweeping the radar frequency from high to low as the pulse was being generated and sent, which stretched the photon in time, allowing its frequency to be better defined. This also led to its partner being better defined, resulting in greater certainty of the signal. The researchers note that the reason this approach could work is because statistical variation is used in detection, narrowing variations in detection.