Sampling the canonical phase from phase-space functions - art. no. 063811

We discuss the possibility of sampling exponential moments of the canonical phase from the s-parametrized phase-space functions. We show that the samp ling kernels exist and are well-behaved for any s> -1, whereas for s= -1 th e kernels diverge in the origin. In spite of that, we show that the phase-s pace moments can be sampled with any predefined accuracy from the Q functio n measured in the double-homodyne scheme with perfect detectors. We discuss the effect of imperfect detection and address sampling schemes using other measurable phase-space functions. Finally, we discuss the problem of sampl ing the canonical phase distribution itself.