English

Implementing Non-Projective Measurements via Linear Optics: an Approach Based on Optimal Quantum State Discrimination

Quantum Physics 2016-08-16 v3

Abstract

We discuss the problem of implementing generalized measurements (POVMs) with linear optics, either based upon a static linear array or including conditional dynamics. In our approach, a given POVM shall be identified as a solution to an optimization problem for a chosen cost function. We formulate a general principle: the implementation is only possible if a linear-optics circuit exists for which the quantum mechanical optimum (minimum) is still attainable after dephasing the corresponding quantum states. The general principle enables us, for instance, to derive a set of necessary conditions for the linear-optics implementation of the POVM that realizes the quantum mechanically optimal unambiguous discrimination of two pure nonorthogonal states. This extends our previous results on projection measurements and the exact discrimination of orthogonal states.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0510163,
  title  = {Implementing Non-Projective Measurements via Linear Optics: an Approach Based on Optimal Quantum State Discrimination},
  author = {Peter van Loock and Kae Nemoto and William J. Munro and Philippe Raynal and Norbert Lütkenhaus},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0510163},
  year   = {2016}
}

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final published version

R2 v1 2026-07-22T19:51:37.208Z