Optimal detection strategy for super-resolving quantum lidar

The description of quantum lidar in the presence of photon loss and phase noise is presented. Taylor series is directly exploited to expand the interference signal to separate the detected phase and the phase noise. The analytical expression of interference signal and its sensitivity are illustrated by binary outcome homodyne, parity photon counting, and zero-nonzero photon counting detection. Numerical calculation indicates that homodyne detection has the best sensitivity and resolution and should be considered as the optimal detection strategy for quantum lidar in the diffusion region of κ<10-2. However, parity detection should be the best detection scheme for resolution, and zero-nonzero detection represents the optimal detection for sensitivity in the rest region. Finally, zero-nonzero detection produces better sensitivity than parity detection.