Quantum State Tomography Using Successive Measurements

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum state tomography method using sequences of two measurements in non-orthogonal bases, enabling reconstruction of quantum states in finite-dimensional systems through joint quasi-probability measurements.

Contribution

It presents a novel tomography scheme based on successive measurements of non-orthogonal basis pairs, extending previous measurement models to arbitrary finite dimensions.

Findings

Applicable to finite-dimensional quantum systems.

Reconstructs states via joint quasi-probability measurements.

Uses a von Neumann-inspired measurement model.

Abstract

We describe a quantum state tomography scheme which is applicable to a system described in a Hilbert space of arbitrary finite dimensionality and is constructed from sequences of two measurements. The scheme consists of measuring the various pairs of projectors onto two bases --which have no mutually orthogonal vectors--, the two members of each pair being measured in succession. We show that this scheme implies measuring the joint quasi-probability of any pair of non-degenerate observables having the two bases as their respective eigenbases. The model Hamiltonian underlying the scheme makes use of two meters initially prepared in an arbitrary given quantum state, following the ideas that were introduced by von Neumann in his theory of measurement.