Abstract
A description of quantum systems at the time interval between two successive measurements is presented. Two wave functions, the first preselected by the initial measurement and the second post-selected by the final measurement describe quantum systems at a single time. It is shown how this approach leads to a new concept: a weak value of an observable. Weak values represent novel characteristics of quantum systems between two measurements. They are outcomes of a standard measuring procedure that fulfills certain requirements of "weakness". We call it weak measurement. Physical meaning and underlying mathematical structure of weak measurements are explored.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 85-92 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Physica Scripta |
| Volume | 76 |
| State | Published - 1998 |