Students Develop New Tech To Power 3D Holograms Using Quantum Entanglement

A revolutionary step in quantum imaging has emerged from two undergraduate students at Brown University. Moe (Yameng) Zhang and Wenyu Liu, working under the guidance of senior research associate Petr Moroshkin and Professor Jimmy Xu, unveiled a novel microscopic imaging technique that may finally crack a problem that has long frustrated physicists: phase wrapping. Presented at the prestigious Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, their work introduces a cost-effective, high-resolution method for capturing 3D holographic images using quantum-entangled photons.

Traditional imaging tools like X-rays or photographs rely on reflected light to capture an object’s surface features. But quantum imaging works differently; it exploits what Einstein once called the “spooky action at a distance” of quantum entanglement. In this phenomenon, two photons (the “idler” and the “signal”) remain intrinsically linked, meaning changes to one instantaneously affect the other, no matter how far apart they are.

Zhang and Liu’s approach, dubbed Quantum Multi-Wavelength Holography, uses this entangled photon pair to reveal both the intensity and phase of light bouncing off microscopic targets. As Zhang explains:

“The technique allows us to gather better and more accurate information on the thickness of the object, which enables us to create accurate 3D images using indirect photons.”

One of the team’s most groundbreaking innovations is the ability to image objects illuminated with infrared light using only visible light detectors. The key is a nonlinear crystal that generates entangled photon pairs—one in the infrared spectrum (idler) that probes the object, and another in the visible spectrum (signal) used for imaging. This trick effectively enables what Professor Xu calls:

This technique not only reduces cost by eliminating the need for expensive infrared detectors, but also makes the system ideal for biological imaging. Infrared light can safely penetrate tissues, making it ideal for applications like cellular or neurological imaging.

Liu explains: “The advantage of our approach is that we can use infrared for probing an object, but the light we use for detection is in the visible range. So we can use standard, inexpensive silicon detectors.”

One of the greatest hurdles in 3D holography has been phase wrapping—a distortion that occurs when the wave-based measurement of depth folds back on itself, making deeper and shallower features appear indistinguishable. This is especially problematic in high-resolution microscopy, where precise depth data is critical.

To solve this, the Brown researchers took a bold step: they used two sets of entangled photons with slightly different wavelengths. This created what’s known as a synthetic wavelength—a longer, virtual wavelength that dramatically increases the depth range of the measurement. Liu elaborated:

“By using two slightly different wavelengths, we effectively create a much longer synthetic wavelength — about 25 times longer than the originals. That gives us a much larger measurable range that’s more applicable to cells and other biological materials.”

As a final demonstration, the students imagined a 1.5 mm metallic letter “B”, a nod to their home institution, Brown University. The results were precise and high-fidelity, proving their technique can be used to generate accurate 3D models of complex shapes. For his outstanding work, Liu was awarded the Ionata Prize by Brown’s School of Engineering, recognizing creative and independent problem-solving in research.

Zhang said: “We had been reading papers by pioneers in this field, so it was great to be able to attend the conference and meet some of them in person. It’s really an amazing opportunity.”