Giant weak value amplification with chirped waveforms

Abstract

Weak value amplification is a classical phenomenon that can enhance the sensitivity of a measurement through clever use of interference. The most well-known paradigm of weak value amplification makes use of a Gaussian pulse, which is typical of pulsed laser systems. In this Letter we show that chirped pulses have a great advantage over Gaussians at detecting frequency shifts thanks to the large phase space area that they cover. As an example, we show that within the typical operative parameters of a radar, we can achieve two orders of magnitude amplification of small frequency shifts \emph{on top of the weak value amplification}. This idea could lead to new metrological avenues in the microwave optics domain, and to Doppler radar technology with unprecedented sensitivity.