Spin-orbit implementation of the Solovay-Kitaev decomposition of single-qubit channels

The Solovay-Kitaev theorem allows us to approximate any single-qubit gate to arbitrary accuracy with a finite sequence of fundamental operations from a universal set of gates. Inspired by this decomposition, we present a quantum channel simulator capable of implementing any completely positive trace-preserving map. Our realization consists of one ancillary qubit, encoded in the transverse mode of a laser beam (orbital degree of freedom), one qubit system, encoded in its polarization (spin), one spin-orbit CNOT gate, and four single-qubit operations performed with prisms and polarization components. Our results describe the implementation of arbitrary single-qubit channels on the photon polarization using the transverse mode as the ancillary qubit.