How the result of a measurement of a component of the spin of a spin-1/2 particle can turn out to be 100 without using weak measurements

S. Ashhab, Franco Nori

Published 2009-07-28Version 1

We discuss two questions related to the concept of weak values as seen from the standard quantum-mechanics point of view. In the first part of the paper, we describe a scenario where unphysical results similar to those encountered in the study of weak values are obtained using a simple experimental setup that does not involve weak measurements. In the second part of the paper, we discuss the correct physical description, according to quantum mechanics, of what is being measured in a weak-value-type experiment.