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arXiv:2104.14393 · Physical Review Letters

Enhanced Weak-Value Amplification via Photon Recycling

Courtney Krafczyk, Andrew N. Jordan, M. E. Goggin, Paul G. Kwiat

Published Jun 1, 2021• 40 citations

Abstract

In a quantum-noise limited system, weak-value amplification using postselection normally does not produce more sensitive measurements than standard methods for ideal detectors: the increased weak value is compensated by the reduced power due to the small postselection probability. Here, we experimentally demonstrate recycled weak-value measurements using a pulsed light source and optical switch to enable nearly deterministic weak-value amplification of a mirror tilt. Using photon counting detectors, we demonstrate a signal improvement by a factor of 4.4±0.2 and a signal-to-noise ratio improvement of 2.10±0.06, compared to a single-pass weak-value experiment, and also compared to a conventional direct measurement of the tilt. The signal-to-noise ratio improvement could reach around six for the parameters of this experiment, assuming lower loss elements.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.220801

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