Comment on "Weak Measurements with Orbital-Angular-Momentum Pointer states"

TL;DR

This paper challenges a recent claim by demonstrating that Gaussian pointer states can access higher-order weak values with appropriate displacement measurements, simplifying the experimental setup for weak measurement schemes.

Contribution

The authors show that Gaussian pointer states can be used to access higher-order weak values, countering the previous claim that only orbital-angular-momentum states are suitable.

Findings

Gaussian pointers can access higher-order weak values with proper displacement observation

Simplifies experimental requirements for weak measurement schemes

Challenges previous assumptions about the necessity of orbital-angular-momentum states

Abstract

In a recent Letter (Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 040401 (2012)), G. Puentes, N. Hermosa and J. P. Torres report a scheme for extracting higher-order weak values by using orbital-angular momentum states as pointer states. They claim that such weak values are inaccessible with a Gaussian pointer state only. In this Comment, we show that the Gaussian pointer state by itself can provide access to the higher-order weak value, if suitable pointer displacement is observed.