Experimental Optimum Maximum-Confidence Discrimination and Optimum Unambiguous Discrimination of Two Mixed Single-Photon States

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates experimental methods for optimal quantum state discrimination between two mixed single-photon polarization states, using linear optics and a quantum dot source, advancing quantum measurement techniques.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental implementation of both maximum-confidence and unambiguous discrimination for mixed single-photon states.

Findings

Successful realization of maximum-confidence discrimination.

Implementation of unambiguous discrimination with rank-two states.

Use of linear optics and quantum dot sources for quantum measurements.

Abstract

We present an experimental implementation of optimum measurements for quantum state discrimination. Optimum maximum-confidence discrimination and optimum unambiguous discrimination of two mixed single-photon polarization states were performed. For the latter the states of rank two in a four-dimensional Hilbert space are prepared using both path and polarization encoding. Linear optics and single photons from a true single-photon source based on a semiconductor quantum dot are utilized.