Experimental quantum tomography assisted by multiply symmetric states in higher dimensions

Abstract

High-dimensional quantum information processing has become a mature field of research with several different approaches being adopted for the encoding of D-dimensional quantum systems. Such progress has fueled the search of reliable quantum tomographic methods aiming for the characterization of these systems, most of these methods being specifically designed for a given scenario. Here, we report on a tomographic method based on multiply symmetric states and on experimental investigations to study its performance in higher dimensions. Unlike other methods, it is guaranteed to exist in any dimension and provides a significant reduction in the number of measurement outcomes when compared to standard quantum tomography. Furthermore, in the case of odd dimensions, the method requires the least possible number of measurement outcomes. In our experiment we adopt the technique where high-dimensional quantum states are encoded using the linear transverse momentum of single photons and are controlled by spatial light modulators. Our results show that fidelities of 0.984 +/- 0.009 with ensemble sizes of only 1.5 x 10(5) photons in dimension D = 15 can be obtained in typical laboratory conditions, thus showing its practicability in higher dimensions.