How the Result of a Single Coin Toss Can Turn Out to be 100 Heads

2014/03/31 by Christopher Ferrie, Joshua Combes · 11 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Physics and Astronomy · #Cold Fusion and Nuclear Reactions #Complex Systems and Time Series Analysis #Epistemology #Phenomenon #Philosophy #Physics #Postselection #Quantum #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum mechanics #Simple (philosophy) #Statistical physics #Theoretical physics #Turn (biochemistry) #quant-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.113.120404

published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 120404 (2014) · published version

arxiv created 2014/09/18 · openalex publication_date 2014/09/18 · arxiv updated 2014/09/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We show that the phenomenon of anomalous weak values is not limited to quantum theory. In particular, we show that the same features occur in a simple model of a coin subject to a form of classical backaction with pre- and postselection. This provides evidence that weak values are not inherently quantum but rather a purely statistical feature of pre- and postselection with disturbance.

Citations

• What's Wrong with this Pillow?
• Could Feynman Have Said This?
• Quantum mechanics and reality
• The uncertainty relation in which-way experiments: how to observe directly the momentum transfer using weak values
• On the Einstein Podolsky Rosen paradox
• A Suggested Interpretation of the Quantum Theory in Terms of "Hidden" Variables. I

Cited by

• Quasiprobability behind the out-of-time-ordered correlator
• The Informational Observer in Relational Quantum Mechanics
• Why the "classical" explanation of weak values by Ferrie and Combes does not work: a comment on Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 120404 (2014)
• A comment on "How the result of a single coin toss can turn out to be 100 heads"
• The meaning of “anomalous weak values” in quantum and classical theories
• Weak Measurement and Two-State-Vector Formalism: Deficit of Momentum Transfer in Scattering Processes
• Post-selected von Neumann measurement with Hermite–Gaussian and Laguerre–Gaussian pointer states
• Interference experiment, anomalous weak value, and Leggett-Garg test of macrorealism
• Weak measurement-based state estimation of Gaussian states of one-variable quantum systems
• Amplification of rotation velocity using weak measurements in Sagnac’s interferometer
• What meter interference can tell us about the statistics of weak measurements

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