Resolution and apodization in images generated by twin photons

A theoretical study on the image formation of an object when illuminated by at least one of the photons generated by the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) is discussed. Image is detected in coincidence at the image plane by signal and idler detectors, after the idler photon is transmitted through the object. Simulation results on the comparison between coincidence rate and the classical light intensity at the image plane are presented. Simulations show that the image obtained with the parametric down-converted light source is better resolved than the one obtained with infrared classical source, but not equal to the resolution of the image produced by the violet classical light source. The presence of a strong apodization in the quantum image is also noticed, due to the existence of the effective nonlocal lens.