Weak-to-strong transition of quantum measurement in a trapped-ion system

TL;DR

This study demonstrates a controllable transition from weak to strong quantum measurements in a trapped ion system, providing insights into measurement processes and potential applications in quantum technology testing.

Contribution

The paper reports the first observation of a tunable weak-to-strong measurement transition in a single trapped ion system, characterized by a universal transition factor.

Findings

Observation of weak-to-strong measurement transition.

Quantitative characterization using a universal transition factor.

Potential to test quantum foundations and improve measurement schemes.

Abstract

Quantum measurement remains a puzzle through its stormy history from the birth of quantum mechanics to state-of-the-art quantum technologies. Two complementary measurement schemes have been widely investigated in a variety of quantum systems: von Neumann's projective 'strong' measurement and Aharonov's weak measurement. Here, we report the observation of a weak-to-strong measurement transition in a single trapped $40Ca^+$ ion system. The transition is realized by tuning the interaction strength between the ion's internal electronic state and its vibrational motion, which play the roles of the measured system and the measuring pointer, respectively. By pre- and post-selecting the internal state, a pointer state composed of two of the ion's motional wavepackets is obtained, and its central-position shift, which corresponds to the measurement outcome, demonstrates the transition from the weak-value asymptotes to the expected-value asymptotes. Quantitatively, the weak-to-strong measurement transition is characterized by a universal transition factor $e^{-\Gamma^2}$, where $\Gamma$ is a dimensionless parameter related to the system-apparatus coupling. This transition, which continuously connects weak measurements and strong measurements, may open new experimental possibilities to test quantum foundations and prompt us to re-examine and improve the measurement schemes of related quantum technologies.