  Although the canonical phase of light, which is defined as the complement of
photon number, has been described theoretically by a variety of distinct
approaches, there have been no methods proposed for its measurement. Indeed
doubts have been expressed about whether or not it is measurable. Here we show
how it is possible, at least in principle, to perform a single-shot measurement
of canonical phase using beam splitters, mirrors, phase shifters and
photodetectors.
