Fourier-transform quantum state tomography

We propose a technique for performing quantum state tomography of photonic polarization-encoded multiqubit states. Our method uses a single rotating wave plate, a polarizing beam splitter, and two photon-counting detectors per photon mode. As the wave plate rotates, the photon counters measure a pseudocontinuous signal which is then Fourier transformed. The density matrix of the state is reconstructed using the relationship between the Fourier coefficients of the signal and the Stokes’ parameters that represent the state. The experimental complexity, i.e., different wave plate rotation frequencies, scales linearly with the number of qubits.