Super-resolving power and tunneling as cases of “weak measurement”

A way for transferring the results obtained with super-gain antennas to optical systems, in order to increase their resolving power, was proposed by Toraldo di Francia in 1952. Recent experimental work performed in the microwave range has confirmed the correctness of the theoretical predictions, which could even seem to be in contradiction with the uncertainty principle. Here we propose a simple way to overcome this contradiction based on the “weak measurement” theory. This theory was originally proposed for quantum-mechanical systems, and represents a powerful tool for interpreting even a variety of classical situations. We demonstrate that the results obtained by means of electromagnetic analysis are confirmed by a “weak measurement” interpretation. Moreover, even the case of tunneling in the microwave range has been considered in the light of such a theory.