Underwater imaging

Imaging through clear and clean water can be quite straightforward. However, once the water becomes turbid, the high degree of back-scattered light saturates the detector and the image can no longer be recognised.

One way of overcoming this backscatter is to use short-pulse illumination and time-resolved single-photon detection so that the returned photons can be seen above the back-scattered Imaging through clear and clean water can be quite straightforward. However, once the water becomes more cloudy, the high degree of back-scattered light saturates the detector and the image becomes unrecognisable.

We use quantum detection technologies and systems to overcome this backscatter and image objects over several metres.

These systems are very useful within sub-sea operations, such as in installation, inspections, as well as terrain mapping and hence navigation. At the moment, researchers are building a demonstration unit for trials – so we can simulate the outside environment inside!