Sub-Diffraction Limited Single-Photon LiDAR with Optimized Confocal Super-Oscillatory Illumination

Object detection, recognition, and identification impose stringent requirements on the imaging resolution of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems. The ability of LiDAR to resolve objects is constrained by the Abbe-Rayleigh diffraction limit due to the wave nature of light. Superoscillation, as a far-field super-resolution technique, theoretically allows for the generation of arbitrarily small light spots. However, its practical implementation is primarily validated within the microscopic domain because of the weak super-diffractive information and strong sidelobe noise. Consequently, its application in far-field super-diffractive imaging with light waves remains insufficiently explored. In this study, the first functional prototype is presented for super-resolution imaging using super-oscillatory illumination in LiDAR. By utilizing a specifically engineered super-oscillatory light field with confocal illumination, super-resolution imaging of a target at a distance of 20 meters is achieved. This work offers a promising approach for achieving super-resolution in active 3D imaging.