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Physical Review A

Nonorthogonal projective positive-operator-value measurement of photon polarization states with unit probability of success

Sebastian E. Ahnert, Mike C. Payne

Published Jan 22, 2004• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this paper we describe a scheme for performing a nonorthogonal projective positive-operator-value measurement of any arbitrary single-photon polarization input state with unit probability of success. While this probability is reached in the limit of infinite cycles of states through the apparatus, only one actual physical setup is required for a feasible implementation. Specifically, our setup implements a set of three nonorthogonal measurement operators at angles of 120\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to each other.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.69.012312

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In this paper we describe a scheme for performing a nonorthogonal projective positive-operator-value measurement of any arbitrary single-photon polarization input state with unit probability of success. While this probability is reached in the limit of infinite cycles of states through the apparatus, only one actual physical setup is required for a feasible implementation. Specifically, our setup implements a set of three nonorthogonal measurement operators at angles of 120\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to each other.
Positive-operator-value measures (POVM's) are the most general class of quantum measurements. We propose a setup in which all possible POVM's of a single-photon polarization state (corresponding to all possible sets of two-dimensional Kraus operators) can be implemented easily using linear optics elements. This method makes it possible to experimentally realize any projective orthogonal, projective nonorthogonal or nonprojective sets of any number of POVM operators. Furthermore, our implementation only requires vacuum ancillas and is deterministic rather than probabilistic. Thus it realizes every POVM with the correct set of output states. We give the settings required to implement two different well-known nonorthogonal projective POVM's.
We propose here a single setup for the implementation of all possible positive operator value measurements (POVMs) of a single‐photon polarization state. This includes POVMs with orthogonal projective, non‐orthogonal projective, and non‐projective sets of Kraus operators. Our setup is deterministic as opposed to probabilistic, which means that the setup delivers one of the possible POVM output states in every measurement. Furthermore our method does not require any ancillas except for vacuum states. Finally we illustrate how our setup can be used to implement two well‐known POVMs, including one required for established quantum cryptography protocols [1, 2, 3, 4].
Here we propose an implementation of all possible positive-operator-value measures (POVMs) of two-photon polarization states. POVMs are the most general class of quantum measurements. Our setup requires linear optics, Bell state measurements, and an entangled three-photon ancilla state, which can be prepared separately and in advance (or ``off-line''). As an example we give the detailed settings for a simultaneous measurement of all four Bell states for an arbitrary two-photon polarization state, which is impossible with linear optics alone.
In the quantum theory of measurement, the positive operator-valued measure (POVM) is an important concept, and its implementation can be useful. A POVM consists of a set of non-negative quantum-mechanical Hermitian operators that add up to the identity. The probability that a quantum system is in a particular state is given by the expectation value of the POVM operator corresponding to that state. Following a brief review of the mathematics and mention of the history of POVMs in quantum theory, a particular implementation of a POVM for use in the measurement of nonorthogonal photon polarization states is reviewed. The implementation consists simply of a Wollaston prism, a mirror, two beam splitters, a polarization rotator and three phototubes arranged in an interferometric configuration, and it is shown analytically that the device faithfully represents the POVM. Based on Neumark's extension theorem, the two-dimensional Hilbert space of the POVM implementation can be embedded in the three-dimensional Hilbert space of an ordinary projective-valued measure. Also, analytical expressions are given for the maximum Renyi information loss from the device to a disturbing probe, and for the error and inconclusive rates induced by the probe. Various aspects of the problem of probe optimization are elaborated.
We address the implementation of the positive-operator-valued measure (POVM) describing the optimal MMM-outcome discrimination of the polarization state of a single photon. Initially, the POVM elements are extended to projective operators by the Naimark theorem; then the resulting projective measure is implemented by a Knill-Laflamme-Milburn scheme involving an optical network and photon counters. We find the analytical expression of the Naimark extension and the detection scheme that realizes it for an arbitrary number of outcomes M=2NM={2}^{N}M=2N.
We propose a scheme that can realize a class of positive-operator-valued measures (POVMs) by performing a sequence of projective measurements on the original system, in the sense that for an arbitrary input state the probability distribution of the measurement outcomes is faithfully reproduced. A necessary and sufficient condition for a POVM to be realizable in this way is also derived. In contrast to the canonical approach provided by Neumark's theorem, our method has the advantage of requiring no auxiliary system. Moreover, an arbitrary POVM can be realized by utilizing our protocol on an extended space which is formed by adding only a single extra dimension.