Realization of joint weak measurement in classical optics using optical beam shifts

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the experimental realization of joint weak measurement in classical optics using polarization-dependent beam shifts, enabling the extraction of complex joint weak values and providing insights into quantum measurement processes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental approach to perform joint weak measurements in classical optics, extending quantum measurement concepts to optical beam shifts.

Findings

Successful detection of complex joint weak values

Extraction of polarization-dependent beam shift observables

Potential applications in fundamental quantum measurement studies

Abstract

Quantum weak measurements became extremely popular in classical optics to amplify small optical signals for fundamental interests and potential applications. Later, a more general extension, joint weak measurement has been proposed to extract weak value from a joint quantum measurement. However, the detection of joint weak value in the realm of classical optics remains less explored. Here, using the polarization-dependent longitudinal and transverse optical beam shift as a platform, we experimentally realize the quantum joint weak measurement in a classical optical setting. Polarization states are cleverly pre and post-selected, and different single and joint canonical position-momentum observables of the beam are experimentally extracted and subsequently analyzed for successful detection of complex joint weak value. We envision that this work will find usefulness for gaining fundamental insights on quantum measurements and to tackle analogous problems in optics.