Generation and characterization of Werner states and maximally entangled mixed states by a universal source of entanglement.

We present a novel technique for generating two-photon polarization mixed states of any structure, which is based on the peculiar spatial characteristics of a high brilliance source of entangled pairs. Werner states and maximally entangled mixed states, two well-known families of mixed states important for quantum information, have been created and fully characterized by this technique. We have also investigated and tested the nonlocal properties of these states.