Correlators in simultaneous measurement of non-commuting qubit observables

Abstract

We consider the simultaneous and continuous measurement of qubit observables ${\sigma }_z$ and ${\sigma }_z\cos \phi +{\sigma }_x\sin \phi$, focusing on the temporal correlations of the two output signals. Using quantum Bayesian theory, we derive analytical expressions for the correlators, which we find to be in very good agreement with experimentally measured output signals. We further discuss how the correlators can be applied to parameter estimation, and use them to infer a small residual qubit Hamiltonian arising from calibration inaccuracy in the experimental data.

5+11 pages