2015/01/31 by B. E. Y. Svensson · 1 citation
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Hilbert space #Limit (mathematics) #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Merge (version control) #Observable #Quantum #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum limit #Weak interaction #Weak localization #Weak measurement #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s10701-015-9951-0
published as Found Phys(2015) 45:1645-1656
arxiv created 2015/03/06 · openalex publication_date 2015/09/19 · arxiv updated 2015/10/26 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The operational definition of a weak value for a quantum mechanical system involves the limit of the weak measurement strength tending to zero. I study how this limit compares to the situation for the undisturbed (no weak measurement) system. Under certain conditions, which I investigate, this limit is discontinuous in the sense that it does not merge smoothly to the Hilbert space description of the undisturbed system. Hence, in these discontinuous cases, the weak value does not represent the undisturbed system. As a result, conclusions drawn from such weak values regarding the properties of the studied system cannot be upheld. Examples are given.