Quantum Radar Systems for Beyond-Line-of-Sight Detection
Abstract
Quantum radar represents a major shift in sensing by leveraging quantum correlations and entanglement to detect targets beyond the line of sight in complex environments. Unlike classical radar, which suffers severe performance loss in dense urban areas due to multipath effects, clutter, and noise, quantum radar uses biphoton correlations to preserve strong detection sensitivity even under heavy interference. This chapter presents a comprehensive review of quantum radar systems, focusing on NLOS functionality. It describes key concepts such as biphoton generation through spontaneous parametric down-conversion, quantum illumination methods, and optimal detection strategies. Practical implementations using cryogenic superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors and AI-based signal processing are also discussed. The role of quantum radar in future 6G integrated sensing and communication frameworks is explored, highlighting uses in autonomous vehicle safety and smart city monitoring. Simulation studies show detection rates above 95% at a 1 km NLOS distance, with up to a tenfold SNR improvement over classical systems, while experiments demonstrate more than 20 dB of noise reduction. The chapter concludes by addressing ongoing challenges like decoherence, scalability, and standardization, and outlines a pathway toward deployable quantum radar technologies by 2030 for Industry 5.0 applications.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Quantum Information and Cryptography
Radar Systems and Signal Processing
Advanced Optical Sensing Technologies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Publication date
- 31 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter