Comparative Weak Value Amplification as an Approach to Estimating the Value of Small Quantum Mechanical Interactions

• Main Authors: Parks Allen D., Spence Scott E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Polish Academy of Sciences 2016-09-01
• Series: Metrology and Measurement Systems
• Subjects: weak values; weak measurement; Goos-Hänchen shift; interaction strength; regression
• Online Access: http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/mms.2016.23.issue-3/mms-2016-0035/mms-2016-0035.xml?format=INT

Weak value amplification is a measurement technique where small quantum mechanical interactions are amplified and manifested macroscopically in the output of a measurement apparatus. It is shown here that the linear nature of weak value amplification provides a straightforward comparative methodology for using the value of a known small interaction to estimate the value of an unknown small interaction. The methodology is illustrated by applying it to quantify the unknown size of an optical Goos-Hänchen shift of a laser beam induced at a glass/gold interface using the known size of the shift at a glass/air interface.