Dr Aurora Maccarone - University of Cambridge

Research Fellowships 2020

Dr Aurora Maccarone’s Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship, at Herriot-Watt University, focuses on quantum-enhanced three-dimensional imaging in challenging scenarios, specifically in underwater environments.

Underwater three-dimensional optical imaging presents several challenges due to high levels of optical scatter in underwater environments. This limits the achievable ranges of traditional imaging techniques to typically less than 10 metres. Dr Maccarone has demonstrated that single-photon detection technologies are an excellent candidate to allow high-resolution images in extreme scattering conditions, operating over relatively long distances compared to alternative optical approaches. She has also demonstrated that quantum detection technologies will allow imaging previously not possible in highly scattering environments. This will address some of the challenges critical for a range of applications, such as underwater target detection, reduced time for data acquisition, use of multispectral single-photon data, real-time processing of single-photon image data, analysis and modelling of single-photon data in scattering environments, and so on. This approach will enable imaging systems that use much lower optical powers than typically used in commercially available systems, and potentially be less harmful to sea life.

Currently, she is investigating several different arrays of single-photon detectors with the aim of identifying the most suitable solutions for a range of subsea applications. Her long-term goal is to develop imaging techniques that make single-photon detection technologies available for a wide range of underwater applications, such as inspection, monitoring, subsea mapping, or marine archaeology. The novelty of this approach has attracted the attention of a wide scientific community with interests in single-photon technologies, underwater systems, image processing, and software development.

LinkedIn

Twitter