Optimizing the signal-to-noise ratio of a beam-deflection measurement with interferometric weak values

David J. Starling, P. Ben Dixon, Andrew N. Jordan, John C. Howell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

194 Scopus citations

Abstract

The amplification obtained using weak values is quantified through a detailed investigation of the signal-to-noise ratio for an optical beam-deflection measurement. We show that for a given deflection, input power and beam radius, the use of interferometric weak values allows one to obtain the optimum signal-to-noise ratio using a coherent beam. This method has the advantage of reduced technical noise and allows for the use of detectors with a low saturation intensity. We report on an experiment which improves the signal-to-noise ratio for a beam-deflection measurement by a factor of 54 when compared to a measurement using the same beam size and a quantum-limited detector.

Original languageEnglish
Article number041803
JournalPhysical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
Volume80
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 8 Oct 2009
Externally publishedYes

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