General complex Spin Weak Values obtained in Matter-Wave Interferometer Experiments

Abstract

Weak values of the spin operator Sz of massive particles, more precisely neutrons, have been experimentally determined by applying a novel measurement scheme. This is achieved by coupling the neutron's spin weakly to its spatial degree of freedom in a single-neutron interferometer setup. The real and imaginary parts as well as the modulus of the weak value are obtained by a systematical variation of pre- and post-selected ensembles, which enables to study the complex properties of spin weak values.