It is shown that the condition for achieving the quantum Cramer-Rao bound of phase estimation in conventional two-path interferometers is that the state is symmetric with regard to an (unphysical) exchange of the two paths. Since path symmetry is conserved under phase shifts, the maximal phase sensitivity can be achieved at arbitrary bias phases, indicating that path-symmetric states can achieve their quantum Cramer-Rao bound in Bayesian estimates of a completely unknown phase.

• Received 26 November 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.79.033822