Weak Measurement and its Experimental Realisation

TL;DR

This paper discusses the concept of weak measurement in quantum mechanics, re-examines experimental stream-lines, and proposes atomic experiments to compare with Bohmian trajectories, challenging traditional interpretations.

Contribution

It clarifies the meaning of weak values and stream-lines, and proposes atomic experiments to compare with Bohmian trajectories, advancing understanding of quantum flow lines.

Findings

Re-examination of stream-lines in the Toronto experiment

Argument against interpreting energy flow lines as photon trajectories

Proposal for atomic experiments to compare with Bohmian trajectories

Abstract

The relationship between the real part of the weak value of the momentum operator at a post selected position is discussed and the meaning of the experimentally determined stream-lines in the Toronto experiment of Kocsis {\em et al} is re-examined. We argue against interpreting the energy flow lines as photon trajectories. The possibility of performing an analogous experiment using atoms is proposed in order that a direct comparison can be made with the trajectories calculated by Philippidis, Dewdney and Hiley using the Bohm approach.