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Ghost imaging with free electron-photon pairs

Sergei Bogdanov1,2,*, Alexander Preimesberger1,2,*, Harsh Mishra1,2, Dominik Hornof1,2, Thomas Spielauer1, Florian Thajer3, Max Maurer1,2, Pia Falb1,2, Leo Stöger1,2 et al.

Thomas Schachinger2, Friedrich Bleicher3, Michael S. Seifner1,2, Isobel C. Bicket1,2, and Philipp Haslinger1,2,†

  • 1Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Atominstitut, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
  • 2University Service Centre for Transmission Electron Microscopy, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
  • 3Institute of Production Engineering and Photonic Technologies, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • †Contact author: philipp.haslinger@tuwien.ac.at
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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 033120 – Published 28 July, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/hqdr-795h

Abstract

Coincidence imaging, also known as ghost imaging, is a technique that exploits correlations between two particles to reconstruct information about a specimen. The particle that relays the spatial information about the object remains completely noninteracting, while the particle used to probe the object is not spatially resolved. While ghost imaging has been primarily implemented on photonic platforms, applying it to particles with fundamentally different properties opens up scientific directions. Mixing massive, charged electrons with massless, neutral photons introduces a hybrid architecture that unites two fundamental microscopic platforms, each serving as a cornerstone of highly advanced imaging systems. In this work, we investigate coincidence imaging using electron–cathodoluminescence photon pairs generated within a transmission electron microscope. Utilizing a custom-built free-space cathodoluminescence setup, we demonstrate two-dimensional ghost imaging of complex patterns. We are able to obtain a spatial resolution down to 2 μm, paving the way for adaptation of quantum-enhanced imaging techniques from photonic quantum optics to electron microscopy.

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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 033120– Published 28 July, 2026
  • Received 19 September 2025
  • Revised 16 January 2026
  • Accepted 18 June 2026
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