Experimental characterization of qutrits using SIC-POVMs

Understand

Generalized quantum measurements (also known as POVMs) are of great importance in quantum information and quantum foundations, but often difficult to perform.

• We present an experimental approach which can in principle be used to perform arbitrary POVMs in a linear-optical context.
• One of the most interesting POVMs, the SIC-POVM, is the most compact, set of measurements that can be used to fully describe a quantum state.
• We use our technique to carry out the first experimental characterization of the state of a qutrit using SIC-POVMs.