Linear optics and quantum maps

Abstract

We present a theoretical analysis of the connection between classical polarization optics and quantum mechanics of two-level systems. First, we review the matrix formalism of classical polarization optics from a quantum information perspective. In this manner the passage from the Stokes-Jones-Mueller description of classical optical processes to the representation of one- and two-qubit quantum operations, becomes straightforward. Second, as a practical application of our classical-\emph{vs}-quantum formalism, we show how two-qubit maximally entangled mixed states (MEMS), can be generated by using polarization and spatial modes of photons generated via spontaneous parametric down conversion.

13 pages, 8 figures

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Experimental investigation of the dynamics of entanglement: Sudden death, complementarity, and continuous monitoring of the environment
• Environment-induced entanglement with a single photon
• Factorizations for 3-rotations and polarization of the light in Mueller-Stokes an Jones formalisms
• Non-quantum entanglement and a complete characterization of pre-Mueller and Mueller matrices in polarization optics