title: Experimental realization of quantum illumination.
abstract: We present the first experimental realization of the quantum illumination protocol proposed by Lloyd [Science 321, 1463 (2008)] and S. Tan et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 253601 (2008)], achieved in a simple feasible experimental scheme based on photon-number correlations. A main achievement of our result is the demonstration of a strong robustness of the quantum protocol to noise and losses that challenges some widespread wisdom about quantum technologies.
authors.affiliation: INRIM, Strada delle Cacce 91, I-10135 Torino, Italy and Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Torino, I-10129 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Lopaeva
authors.affiliation: INRIM, Strada delle Cacce 91, I-10135 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ruo Berchera
authors.affiliation: INRIM, Strada delle Cacce 91, I-10135 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Degiovanni
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano, I-20133 Milano, Italy and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Trieste, I-34151 Trieste, Italy and CNISM UdR Milano Statale, I-20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Olivares
authors.affiliation: INRIM, Strada delle Cacce 91, I-10135 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brida
authors.affiliation: INRIM, Strada delle Cacce 91, I-10135 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Genovese