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arXiv:2111.01642 · Journal of Optics

Interferometric weak value of polarization observable and differential Jones matrix algebra

Niladri Modak, Sayantan Das, Priyanuj Bordoloi, Nirmalya Ghosh

Published Jan 20, 2022• 6 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract The quantification of simultaneously present weak polarization anisotropy effects are of practical interest from polarimetric and metrological perspective. Recently, in Modak et al (2021 Phys. Rev. A 103 053518), we experimentally demonstrated a classical analog of post-selected quantum weak measurement through optical interferometry to amplify all possible weak polarization anisotropy effects individually. Here, we propose an extension of this interferometric framework for applying it in a realistic scenario to quantify simultaneously present polarization anisotropy effects. Moreover, a clear correspondence of differential Jones matrix approach with the present scheme is indicated. The proposed scheme enables the measurement of differential Jones matrices through characteristic Stokes vector elements. Our proposal leads to a new class of polarimeter for experimental detection of differential Jones matrix of non-depolarizing anisotropic medium exhibiting simultaneous multiple polarimetric effects of tiny magnitude.

DOI
10.1088/2040-8986/ac4d72

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Abstract The quantification of simultaneously present weak polarization anisotropy effects are of practical interest from polarimetric and metrological perspective. Recently, in Modak et al (2021 Phys. Rev. A 103 053518), we experimentally demonstrated a classical analog of post-selected quantum weak measurement through optical interferometry to amplify all possible weak polarization anisotropy effects individually. Here, we propose an extension of this interferometric framework for applying it in a realistic scenario to quantify simultaneously present polarization anisotropy effects. Moreover, a clear correspondence of differential Jones matrix approach with the present scheme is indicated. The proposed scheme enables the measurement of differential Jones matrices through characteristic Stokes vector elements. Our proposal leads to a new class of polarimeter for experimental detection of differential Jones matrix of non-depolarizing anisotropic medium exhibiting simultaneous multiple polarimetric effects of tiny magnitude.
Using the profound interferometric philosophy of weak-value amplification, we propose a simple, general, and robust polarization method for the amplification and quantification of small magnitudes of all possible polarization anisotropy effects in a single experimental embodiment. The approach is experimentally realized by introducing a weak coupling between the polarization degree of freedom of light and the path degree of freedom in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer in the presence of a weak anisotropy effect. Real and imaginary weak-value amplifications of different polarization anisotropy effects are manifested as characteristic changes in the relevant Stokes vector elements at the exit port of the interferometer, which follow orthogonal trajectories in the Poincar\'e sphere. The proof-of-concept experiment demonstrates that by using this scheme, one can faithfully extract and quantify an anisotropy parameter that is smaller than the typical sensitivity of measurement of a given Stokes parameter of a traditional polarimeter by a large weak-value amplification factor. This opens up the possibility of a sample measuring weak-value polarimeter for studying the rich variety of fundamental optical effects and for materials characterization and precision metrology.
Quantum weak measurements became extremely popular in classical optics to amplify small optical signals for fundamental interests and potential applications. Later, a more general extension, joint weak measurement has been proposed to extract weak value from a joint quantum measurement. However, the detection of joint weak value in the realm of classical optics remains less explored. Here, using the polarization-dependent longitudinal and transverse optical beam shift as a platform, we experimentally realize the quantum joint weak measurement in a classical optical setting. Polarization states are cleverly pre and post-selected, and different single and joint canonical position-momentum observables of the beam are experimentally extracted and subsequently analyzed for successful detection of complex joint weak value. We envision that this work will find usefulness for gaining fundamental insights on quantum measurements and to tackle analogous problems in optics.
Quantum weak measurements became extremely popular in classical optics to amplify small optical signals for fundamental interests and potential applications. Later, as a more general extension, joint weak measurement has been proposed to extract the weak value from a joint quantum measurement. However, unlike traditional weak measurements, the detection of a joint weak value in the realm of classical optics remains less explored. Here, using the polarization-dependent longitudinal and transverse optical beam shift as a platform, we experimentally realize a classical optical analog of the quantum joint weak measurement. Polarization states are cleverly pre- and postselected, and different single and joint canonical position-momentum observables of the beam are experimentally extracted and subsequently analyzed for successful detection of the complex joint weak value. We envision that this work will find usefulness for gaining fundamental insights on quantum measurements and to tackle analogous problems in optics.
The first experimental realization of a measurement of the weak value of a variable, a concept recently introduced by Aharonov, Albert and Vaidman, is presented. Weak measurements (measurements of a weak value) address the situation in which the separation of the eigenvalues caused by a weakly interacting measurement device is small compared to the width of the distribution of the individual eigenvalues. By appropriate choice of the pre- and post-selected state it is possible that the overlapping eigenvalues will interfere producing a value outside the range of eigenvalues. We demonstrate that the weak value is a practical method of amplifying and resolving the separation between overlapping eigenvalues in an optical experiment proposed by Duck, Stevenson and Sudarshan. In this experiment a birefringent crystal spatially separates two linear polarization components of a Gaussian laser beam by a distance much smaller than the beam waist.
Statistical ensemble formalism of Kim, Mandel and Wolf (J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 4, 433 (1987)) offers a realistic model for characterizing the effect of stochastic non-image forming optical media on the state of polarization of transmittedlight. With suitable choice of the Jones ensemble, various Mueller transformations - some of which have been unknown so far - are deduced. It is observed that the ensemble approach is formally identical to the positive operator valued measures (POVM) on the quantum density matrix. This observation, in combination with the recent suggestion by Ahnert and Payne (Phys. Rev. A 71, 012330, (2005)) - in the context of generalized quantum measurement on single photon polarization states - that linear optics elements can be employed in setting up all possible POVMs, enables us to propose a way of realizing different types of Mueller devices.
Statistical ensemble formalism of Kim, Mandel and Wolf (J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 4, 433 (1987)) offers a realistic model for characterizing the effect of stochastic non-image forming optical media on the state of polarization of transmittedlight. With suitable choice of the Jones ensemble, various Mueller transformations - some of which have been unknown so far - are deduced. It is observed that the ensemble approach is formally identical to the positive operator valued measures (POVM) on the quantum density matrix. This observation, in combination with the recent suggestion by Ahnert and Payne (Phys. Rev. A 71, 012330, (2005)) - in the context of generalized quantum measurement on single photon polarization states - that linear optics elements can be employed in setting up all possible POVMs, enables us to propose a way of realizing different types of Mueller devices.