The analogy between optical beam shifts and quantum weak measurements

Dennis, M. R. and Götte, J. B. (2012) The analogy between optical beam shifts and quantum weak measurements. New Journal of Physics, 14(7), 073013. (doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/14/7/073013)

Abstract

We describe how the notion of optical beam shifts (including the spatial and angular Goos–Hänchen shift and Imbert–Federov shift) can be understood as a classical analogue of a quantum measurement of the polarization state of a paraxial beam by its transverse amplitude distribution. Under this scheme, complex quantum weak values are interpreted as spatial and angular shifts of polarized scalar components of the reflected beam. This connection leads us to predict an extra spatial shift for beams with a radially-varying phase dependance.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Goette, Dr Joerg
• Authors: Dennis, M. R., and Götte, J. B.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: New Journal of Physics
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• ISSN: 1367-2630
• ISSN (Online): 1367-2630
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2012 IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft
• First Published: First published in New Journal of Physics 14:073013
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher