Generalizing the Heisenberg uncertainty relation

DOI10.1119/1.1317561zbMATH Open1219.81016arXivquant-ph/0011115OpenAlexW2038646351MaRDI QIDQ3088705FDOQ3088705

Authors: Eric D. Chisolm 

Publication date: 19 August 2011

Published in: American Journal of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: The proof of the Heisenberg uncertainty relation is modified to produce two improvements: (a) the resulting inequality is stronger because it includes the covariance between the two observables, and (b) the proof lifts certain restrictions on the state to which the relation is applied, increasing its generality. The restrictions necessary for the standard inequality to apply are not widely known, and they are discussed in detail. The classical analog of the Heisenberg relation is also derived, and the two are compared. Finally, the modified relation is used to address the apparent paradox that eigenfunctions of the z component of angular momentum L_z do not satisfy the phi-L_z Heisenberg relation; the resolution is that the restrictions mentioned above make the usual inequality inapplicable to these states. The modified relation does apply, however, and it is shown to be consistent with explicit calculations.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0011115

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Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Finite-dimensional groups and algebras motivated by physics and their representations (81R05)

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• Robertson–Schrödinger uncertainty relation for qubits: a visual approach
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• HEISENBERG UNCERTAINTY RELATION REVISITED — UNIVERSALITY OF ROBERTSON'S RELATION

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