Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2011
Abstract
We review and clarify the sufficient conditions for uniquely defining the generalized weak value as the weak limit of a conditioned average using the contextual values formalism introduced in Dressel, Agarwal and Jordan (2010 Phys. Rev. Lett. 104 240401). We also respond to criticism of our work by Parrott (arXiv:1105.4188v1) concerning a proposed counter-example to the uniqueness of the definition of the generalized weak value. The counter-example does not satisfy our prescription in the case of an underspecified measurement context. We show that when the contextual values formalism is properly applied to this example, a natural interpretation of the measurement emerges and the unique definition in the weak limit holds. We also prove a theorem regarding the uniqueness of the definition under our sufficient conditions for the general case. Finally, a second proposed counter-example by Parrott (arXiv:1105.4188v6) is shown not to satisfy the sufficiency conditions for the provided theorem.
Recommended Citation
Dressel, J., Jordan, A.N., 2012. Sufficient conditions for uniqueness of the weak value. Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical 45, 015304. doi:10.1088/1751-8113/45/1/015304
Peer Reviewed
1
Copyright
IOP Publishing
Comments
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, volume 45, in 2012 following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at DOI:10.1088/1751-8113/45/1/015304.