Linear-optical four-dimensional Bell state measurement with two-photon interference

Abstract: We theoretically investigate the distinguishability of a set of mutually orthogonal four-dimensional Bell states of photon system in path degree of freedom using only linear optics, resorting to the two-photon interference. With quantum interference effect, we find that the 16 four-dimensional Bell states can be classified into 7 groups, which can support the transmission of $log_2 7 = 2.81$ bits classical information with just sending one photon in the quantum superdense coding protocol. When an auxiliary two-dimensional polarization entanglement is introduced, the 16 four-dimensional Bell states then can be classified into 12 groups, which can promote the channel capacity to $log_2 12 = 3.58$ bits with encoding one photon. Our results are significant for photonic superdense coding, and can be useful for other quantum information technologies involved linear-optical high-dimensional Bell state measurement.