Direct characterization of quantum measurement using weak values


Abstract in English

The time-symmetric formalism endows the weak measurement and its outcome, the weak value, many unique features. In particular, it allows a direct tomography of quantum states without resort to complicated reconstruction algorithms and provides an operational meaning to wave functions and density matrices. To date the direct tomography only takes the forward direction of the weak measurement. Here we propose the direct tomography of a measurement apparatus by combining the backward direction of weak measurement and retrodictive description of quantum measurement. As an experimental demonstration, the scheme is applied to the characterization of both projective measurements and general positive operator-valued measures with a photonic setup. Our work provides new insight on the symmetry between quantum states and measurements, as well as an efficient method to characterize a measurement apparatus.

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