TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: BroadQ

Entangled Photon Quantum FTIR

BroadQ introduces a new way to gather infrared information by using entangled photons without the need of conventional thermal detectors. Developed by scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory, the platform combines broadband entangled photon generation with a dual-mode imaging layout, creating a path toward compact infrared spectroscopy and microscopy that can operate at very low light levels, avoid cryogenic cooling and support both near-field and far-field measurements from one setup. That combination makes BroadQ attractive for sensitive samples, portable field instruments and advanced imaging workflows where conventional FTIR systems face practical limits.

How it Works

BroadQ Entangled Photon Quantum FTIR scans a pump beam across entangled photon sources containing spatially varying regions that produce entanglement across different spectral bands, then uses descan optics to combine the output into a stationary broadband beam. Reflective parabolic optics and scan/descan mirror pairs help preserve image quality while avoiding chromatic dispersion, which would otherwise weaken performance across such a wide spectral range. The resulting entangled photons can be the input for an imaging system that supports either near-field or far-field operation without rebuilding or reconfiguring the instrument, which gives the platform flexibility for different spectroscopy and microscopy needs.

Technical Description

The core innovation is a source of broadband entangled photons. Rather than relying on a single narrowband entangled source, the BroadQ Entangled Photon Quantum FTIR platform scans across structured regions in a source and merges the emitted output into one beam, extending spectral coverage across the near- to mid-infrared range. The approach is source-agnostic, so it can work with nonlinear crystals, meta-surfaces or liquid crystals.

A second layer of BroadQ is the imaging architecture. The optical layout places the source at an imaging plane and then relay images or collimates the beam so the same setup can support both near-field and far-field imaging. That matters because near-field imaging can resolve smaller features than far-field methods, while far-field arrangements remain useful for readout of larger fields of view. The disclosed system is intended to make quantum FTIR and related quantum imaging workflows more practical by pairing broadband entangled light with an instrument layout that is easier to use and more adaptable than current approaches.

Advantages

• Broadband infrared coverage from a single platform
• No need for cryogenic MCT detectors
• Supports both near-field and far-field imaging without reconfiguration
• Works at very low light levels, reducing sample damage risk
• Compatible with multiple entangled photon source types
• More portable and integration-friendly than conventional FTIR setups

Market Applications

• Analytical Instrumentation (FTIR microscopes, spectroscopy systems)
• Life Sciences (light-sensitive biological samples, cellular imaging, plant imaging)
• Chemical Sensing (material identification, spectral analysis)
• Defense and Security (trace detection, threat reconnaissance)
• Semiconductor and Materials Characterization (thin films, advanced materials)
• Remote Sensing (field-deployable infrared analysis)

TRL 3

US Patent pending

LA-UR-26-23629

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