Abstract
We present the results of generalized measurements of optical polarization designed to provide one of three or four distinct outcomes. This has allowed us to discriminate between non-orthogonal polarization states with an error probability that is close to the minimum allowed by quantum theory. The sets of states we have prepared and measured are (i) two non-orthogonal states of linear polarisation, (ii) the trine, consisting of three states of linear polarization separated by 60º and, (iii) the tetrad, consisting of four polarization states (two linear and two elliptical) arranged in a tetrahedron on the Poincaré sphere. This has enabled us to realize the generalized measurements required for (i) optimal unambiguous discrimination between two non-orthogonal polarization states, (ii) discrimination between the three trine states and four tetrad states with minimum probability of error and, (iii) maximizing the mutual information associated with our trine and tetrad measurements and showing that it exceeds the value assocated with the best possible von Neumann measurement.
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© 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Barnett, S.M., Clarke, R.B.M., Kendon, V.M., Riis, E., Chefles, A., Sasaki, M. (2002). Experimental Quantum State Discrimination. In: Tombesi, P., Hirota, O. (eds) Quantum Communication, Computing, and Measurement 3. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47114-0_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47114-0_11
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-306-46609-0
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