1205.1238 (Antonio Di Lorenzo)

Sequential measurement of conjugate variables as an alternative to
tomography    [PDF]

Antonio Di Lorenzo

It is shown how it is possible to reconstruct the initial state of a one-dimensional system by measuring sequentially two conjugate variables. The procedure relies on the concept of quasi-characteristic function, the Fourier-transform of Wigner quasi-probability. The proper characteristic function obtained Fourier-transforming the experimentally accessible joint probability of observing "position" then "momentum" (or vice versa) can be expressed as a product of the quasi-characteristic function of the two detectors and that, unknown, of the quantum system. This allows state reconstruction through the sequence: data collection, Fourier-transform, algebraic operation, inverse Fourier-transform. The strength of the measurement should be intermediate for the procedure to work.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1205.1238