Simple Linear Optical `Binary Measurement Tree' for Single Photonic Polarization Qubit

Positive-operator-value-measurement (POVM) is one of the essential components of quantum information processing (QIP). Recently a `binary measurement tree' (BST) strategy (PRA 77, 052104) is suggested for implementing arbitrary POVM by sequential two-operator POVMs. We present a simple novel two-operator POVM module via linear optics, which is employed as block to construct a `binary measurement tree' for implementing arbitrary POVM on single photonic polarization qubit. The total complexity of the experimental setup is significantly reduced in contrast to the previous works. As an example, we give the detailed settings of a well-known POVM.