The objective of this project is to use the Majorana description of a spin-1 system to examine many of its properties. In the Majorana approach, an arbitrary pure state of a spin-1 system is represented by a pair of points on the unit sphere, or a pair of unit vectors. An expression is derived for the squared overlap of two states in terms of their Majorana (or M-) vectors and used to work out all the orthogonalities and bases that are possible for the three geometrically distinct types of spin-1 states. Finally, a geometrical construction is given of a set of mutually unbiased bases for a spin-1 system. The applications of this result to problems in quantum information are mentioned.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Kalden, Tenzin

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-050115-110123

Advisor

• Aravind, Padmanabhan K.

Year

• 2015

Date created

• 2015-05-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Physics

Rights statement

• In Copyright