English

Reconstructing the density matrix of a spin s through Stern-Gerlach measurements (II)

Quantum Physics 2009-10-31 v1

Abstract

The density matrix of a spin s is fixed uniquely if the probabilities to obtain the value s upon measuring n.S are known for 4s(s+1) appropriately chosen directions n in space. These numbers are just the expectation values of the density operator in coherent spin states, and they can be determined in an experiment carried out with a Stern-Gerlach apparatus. Furthermore, the experimental data can be inverted providing thus a parametrization of the statistical operator by 4s(s+1) positive parameters.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/9903067,
  title  = {Reconstructing the density matrix of a spin s through Stern-Gerlach measurements (II)},
  author = {Jean-Pierre Amiet and Stefan Weigert},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/9903067},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

Latex, 8 pages