China’s New Spy System can Read an Open Book from Over a Kilometer Away

Chinese scientists have developed a laser-based imaging system capable of reading text as small as 3 millimeters from a distance of 1.36 kilometers (approximately 0.85 miles).

Photo: journals.APS.org

This advancement, detailed in a study published in Physical Review Letters, utilizes active intensity interferometry to achieve a resolution enhancement approximately 14 times greater than that of traditional single-telescope systems.

As in the study published scientists claimed:

“Through outdoor experiments, we have successfully imaged millimeter-scale targets located at 1.36km away, achieving a resolution enhancement by about 14 times over the diffraction limit of a single telescope."

The system operates by emitting eight infrared laser beams toward a target. Two telescopes then capture the intensity of the reflected light. By analyzing the variations in light intensity between the two telescopes, the system reconstructs high-resolution images of the target. This method allows for detailed imaging despite challenges such as atmospheric distortion, which often hampers long-distance optical observations.

Potential applications for this technology include archaeology, where it could be used to examine ancient inscriptions from a distance, and environmental monitoring, such as observing wildlife habitats without intrusion. However, the system requires a clear line of sight and laser illumination of the target, which may limit its use in certain scenarios.

Future developments may incorporate artificial intelligence to enhance image reconstruction and improve laser targeting. Such advancements could broaden the system’s applicability across various fields, including security and scientific research.

This breakthrough demonstrates a significant step forward in remote sensing capabilities, offering new possibilities for detailed observation from considerable distances.