title: Measuring the quantum state of a large angular momentum.
abstract: We demonstrate a general method to measure the quantum state of an angular momentum of arbitrary magnitude. The (2F+1)x(2F+1) density matrix is completely determined from a set of Stern-Gerlach measurements with (4F+1) different orientations of the quantization axis. We implement the protocol for laser cooled Cesium atoms in the 6S(1/2)(F = 4) hyperfine ground state and apply it to a variety of test states prepared by optical pumping and Larmor precession. A comparison of input and measured states shows typical reconstruction fidelities F >/~0.95.
authors.affiliation: Optical Sciences Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klose
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Jessen