Bures geometry of the three-level quantum systems

We compute-using a formula of Dittmann-the Bures metric tensor (g) for the eight-dimensional state space of three-level quantum systems, employing a n ewly developed Euler angle-based parameterization of the 3 x 3 density matr ices. Most of the individual metric elements (g(ij)) are found to be expres sible in relatively compact form, many of them in fact being exactly zero. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.