1999/10/28 by Konrad Banaszek, Banaszek, Konrad
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum Physics (quant-ph) #Quantum optics and atomic interactions #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.quant-ph/9910117
PhD thesis, 92 pages + 1 colour plate, 14 figures
arxiv created 1999/10/28 · openalex publication_date 1999/10/28 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In this thesis we present a direct scheme for measuring quasidistribution functions of light. This scheme, based on photon counting, is derived from a simple relation linking the Wigner function with photon statistics. We develop a full multimode theory of the scheme, and show that the principle of the measurement can be straightforwardly generalized to the detection of the multimode radiation. We also discuss practical aspects of the scheme, including statistical error, non-unit detection efficiency, and imperfect interference visibility. Next, we report experimental realization of the scheme, and present measurements of the Wigner function for several quantum states of light. Finally, we study the general problem of statistical uncertainty in quantum-optical photodetection measurements.