Optimization of quantum universal detectors

Abstract

The expectation value <O> of an arbitrary operator O can be obtained via a universal measuring apparatus that is independent of O, by changing only the data-processing of the outcomes. Such a ``universal detector'' performs a joint measurement on the system and on a suitable ancilla prepared in a fixed state, and is equivalent to a positive operator valued measure (POVM) for the system that is ``informationally complete''. The data processing functions generally are not unique, and we pose the problem of their optimization, providing some examples for covariant POVM's, in particular for SU(d) covariance group.