Ultrasensitive beam deflection measurement via interferometric weak value amplification.
We report on the use of an interferometric weak value technique to amplify very small transverse deflections of an optical beam. By entangling the beam's transverse degrees of freedom with the which-path states of a Sagnac interferometer, it is possible to realize an optical amplifier for polarization independent deflections. The theory for the interferometric weak value amplification method is presented along with the experimental results, which are in good agreement. Of particular interest, we measured the angular deflection of a mirror down to 400+/-200 frad and the linear travel of a piezo actuator down to 14+/-7 fm.
Dixon
P Ben
PB
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
Starling
David J
DJ
Jordan
Andrew N
AN
Howell
John C
JC