Elementary quantum mechanics in a space-time lattice

DOI10.1007/S10773-011-0677-2zbMATH Open1225.81048arXiv1011.2544OpenAlexW3101836975MaRDI QIDQ644340FDOQ644340

Authors: Manjit Bhatia, P. Narayana Swamy 

Publication date: 4 November 2011

Published in: International Journal of Theoretical Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Studies of quantum fields and gravity suggest the existence of a minimal length, such as Planck length cite{Floratos,Kempf}. It is natural to ask how the existence of a minimal length may modify the results in elementary quantum mechanics (QM) problems familiar to us cite{Gasiorowicz}. In this paper we address a simple problem from elementary non-relativistic quantum mechanics, called "particle in a box", where the usual continuum (1+1)-space-time is supplanted by a space-time lattice. Our lattice consists of a grid of $lambd{a}_{0}imesa{u}_0$ rectangles, where $lambd{a}_0$, the lattice parameter, is a fundamental length (say Planck length) and, we take $a{u}_0$ to be equal to $lambd{a}_0/c$. The corresponding Schrodinger equation becomes a difference equation, the solution of which yields the $q$-eigenfunctions and $q$-eigenvalues of the energy operator as a function of $lambd{a}_0$. The $q$-eigenfunctions form an orthonormal set and both $q$-eigenfunctions and $q$-eigenvalues reduce to continuum solutions as $lambd{a}_{0}ightarrow0.$ The corrections to eigenvalues because of the assumed lattice is shown to be $O(lambd{a}_0^2).$ We then compute the uncertainties in position and momentum, $Deltax,Deltap$ for the box problem and study the consequent modification of Heisenberg uncertainty relation due to the assumption of space-time lattice, in contrast to modifications suggested by other investigations such as cite{Floratos}.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1011.2544

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zbMATH Keywords

discrete variablediscrete coordinatesdiscrete derivativediscrete integralsnon-continuous variable

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Closed and approximate solutions to the Schrödinger, Dirac, Klein-Gordon and other equations of quantum mechanics (81Q05)

Cites Work

• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Minimal length uncertainty relation and the hydrogen spectrum
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Title not available (Why is that?)

Cited In (5)

• Quantum electrodynamics on a space-time lattice
• Non-local imprints of gravity on quantum theory
• Binary representation of coordinate and momentum in quantum mechanics
• Step potential problem and harmonic oscillator problem in the minimum length quantum mechanics
• UMBRAL DEFORMATIONS ON DISCRETE SPACE–TIME

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