Teaching the Foundations of Quantum Imaging Through Mach-Zehnder Interferometry

Quantum imaging is an emerging field in quantum optics with a wide range of applications including microscopy, secure communication and medical imaging. To foster knowledge and attract public attention and understanding, these applications are of high interest for teaching and science communication. The field of quantum imaging in particular has an appealing goal, the transmission of images. Quantum imaging setups use single photon sources and detectors, which are hard to adjust, easily damaged, and yet expensive. However, the basic approach of quantum imaging methods can be explained in a much simpler way. We use a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with laser beams to demonstrate how to obtain the properties of the imaged object. The setup is highly stable and well-suited for student laboratory courses.