Complex counterpart of variance in quantum measurements for pre- and postselected systems

The variance of an observable in a preselected quantum system, which is always real and non-negative, appears as an increase in the probe wave packet width in indirect measurements. Extending this framework to pre- and postselected systems, we formulate a complex-valued counterpart of the variance called “weak variance.” In our formulation, the real and imaginary parts of the weak variance appear as changes in the probe wave packet width in the vertical-horizontal and diagonal-antidiagonal directions, respectively, on the quadrature phase plane. Using an optical system, we experimentally demonstrate these changes in the probe wave packet width caused by the real negative and purely imaginary weak variances. Furthermore, we show that the weak variance can be expressed as the variance of the weak-valued probability distribution in pre- and postselected systems. These operational and statistical interpretations support the rationality of formulating the weak variance as a complex counterpart of the variance in pre- and postselected systems.