Measuring incompatible observables of a single photon

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the first experimental sequential weak measurement of two incompatible observables on a single photon, advancing understanding of quantum measurement limitations and possibilities.

Contribution

It introduces the first implementation of sequential weak value measurement of incompatible observables on a single photon.

Findings

Successful realization of sequential weak measurements

Enhanced understanding of quantum measurement limitations

Potential applications in quantum information processing

Abstract

One of the most intriguing aspects of Quantum Mechanics is the impossibility of measuring at the same time observables corresponding to non-commuting operators. This impossibility can be partially relaxed when considering joint or sequential weak values evaluation. Indeed, weak measurements have been a real breakthrough in the quantum measurement framework that is of the utmost interest from both a fundamental and an applicative point of view. Here we show how we realized, for the first time, a sequential weak value evaluation of two incompatible observables on a single photon.