We consider multitime correlators for output signals from linear detectors, continuously measuring several qubit observables at the same time. Using the quantum Bayesian formalism, we show that for unital (symmetric) evolution in the absence of phase backaction, an
N-time correlator can be expressed as a product of two-time correlators when
N is even. For odd
N, there is a similar factorization, which also includes a single-time average. Theoretical predictions agree well with experimental results for two detectors, which simultaneously measure noncommuting qubit observables.
Qubit measurement by mesoscopic charge detectors has received great interest in the community of mesoscopic transport and solid-state quantum computation, and some controversial issues still remain unresolved. In this work, we revisit the continuous weak measurement of a solid-state qubit by single electron transistors (SETs) in nonlinear-response regime. For two SET models typically used in the literature, we find that the signal-to-noise ratio can violate the universal upper bound ``4,'' which is imposed quantum mechanically on linear-response detectors. This different result can be understood by means of the cross correlation of the detector currents by viewing the two junctions of the single SET as two detectors. Possible limitation of the potential-scattering approach to this result is also discussed.
We consider a two-level quantum system (qubit) which is continuously measured by a detector. The conventional formalism, which implies the ensemble averaging, describes the gradual decoherence of the qubit state due to measurement. However, in each particular realization of the measurement process we can have the opposite effect: gradual purification of the qubit density matrix. This can be described by the recently developed Bayesian formalism suitable for individual quantum systems. The purification effect may be verified experimentally using present day technology and can be useful for quantum computing. In particular, the decoherence of a single qubit can be suppressed using continuous measurement and the feedback loop.