Weak values, 'negative probability' and the uncertainty principle

dc.creatorSokolovski, D.
dc.date2009-05-23
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T13:17:47Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T13:17:47Z
dc.descriptionA quantum transition can be seen as a result of interference between various pathways(e.g. Feynman paths) which can be labelled by a variable $f$. An attempt to determine the value of f without destroying the coherence between the pathways produces a weak value of $\bar{f}$. We show $\bar{f}$ to be an average obtained with amplitude distribution which can, in general, take negative values which, in accordance with the uncertainty principle, need not contain information about the actual range of the values $f$ which contribute to the transition. It is also demonstrated that the moments of such alternating distributions have a number of unusual properties which may lead to misinterpretation of the weak measurement results.We provide a detailed analysis of weak measurements with and without post-selection. Examples include the double slit diffraction experiment,weak von Neumann and von Neumann-like measurements, traversal time for an elastic collision, the phase time, the local angular momentum(LAM) and the 'three-box case' of {\it Aharonov et al}
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/0905.3810
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/0905.3810
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/231227
dc.subjectQuantum Physics
dc.titleWeak values, 'negative probability' and the uncertainty principle
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