Weak Values as Interference Phenomena

Authors

Justin Dressel, Chapman UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-18-2015

Abstract

Weak values arise experimentally as conditioned averages of weak (noisy) observable measurements that minimally disturb an initial quantum state, and also as dynamical variables for reduced quantum state evolution even in the absence of measurement. These averages can exceed the eigenvalue range of the observable ostensibly being estimated, which has prompted considerable debate regarding their interpretation. Classical conditioned averages of noisy signals only show such anomalies if the quantity being measured is also disturbed prior to conditioning. This fact has recently been rediscovered, along with the question whether anomalous weak values are merely classical disturbance effects. Here we carefully review the role of the weak value as both a conditioned observable estimation and a dynamical variable, and clarify why classical disturbance models will be insufficient to explain the weak value unless they can also simulate other quantum interference phenomena.

Comments

This article was originally published in Physical Review A, volume 91, in 2015. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.91.032116

Recommended Citation

Dressel, J., 2015. Weak values as interference phenomena. Physical Review A 91, 032116. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.91.032116

Peer Reviewed

1

Copyright

American Physical Society