Measuring the elements of the optical density matrix

K. L. Pregnell; D. T. Pegg

doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.66.013810

Measuring the elements of the optical density matrix

Quantum Physics 2009-11-07 v1

Authors: K. L. Pregnell , D. T. Pegg

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Abstract

Most methods for experimentally reconstructing the quantum state of light involve determining a quasiprobability distribution such as the Wigner function. In this paper we present a scheme for measuring individual density matrix elements in the photon number state representation. Remarkably, the scheme is simple, involving two beam splitters and a reference field in a coherent state.

Keywords

wigner function quantum optics quantum tomography

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0209132,
  title  = {Measuring the elements of the optical density matrix},
  author = {K. L. Pregnell and D. T. Pegg},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0209132},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

6 pages and 1 figure

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