Optimal waveform estimation for classical and quantum systems via time-symmetric smoothing. II. Applications to atomic magnetometry and Hardy's paradox

The time-symmetric quantum smoothing theory [Tsang, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 250403 (2009); Phys. Rev. A 80, 033840 (2009)] is extended to account for discrete jumps in the classical random process to be estimated, discrete variables in the quantum system, such as spin, angular momentum, and photon number, and Poisson measurements, such as photon counting. The extended theory is used to model atomic magnetometers and study Hardy's paradox in phase space.