Realizable higher-dimensional two-particle entanglements via multiport beam splitters

Multiport beam splitters are shown to be applicable in feasible optical realizations of higher-dimensional EPR correlations, and of tests of local realism involving measurements of nondichotomic variables. These multiports permit optical realizations of any unitary operator in Hilbert spaces of arbitrary finite dimension. Thus it is shown that one is by no means constrained to entangled spin systems, and to Stern-Gerlach apparatuses. In the analysis the concept of generalized Bell numbers is employed, which is more suitable than the standard set of spin eigenvalues. The results presented here move the discussion on entangled higher-than-1/2 spin systems from the realm of gedanken experiments to real experiments.