English

A single particle uncertainty relation

Quantum Physics 2009-02-11 v6 Mathematical Physics math.MP Atomic Physics

Abstract

We consider successive measurements of position and momentum of a single particle. Let P be the conditional probability to measure the momentum k with precision dk, given a previously successful position measurement q with precision dq. Several upper bounds for the probability P are determined. For arbitrary, but given precision dq, dk, these bounds refer to the variation of q, k and the state vector of the particle. A weak bound is given by the inequality P <= dkdq/h, where h is Planck's quantum of action. It is non-trivial for all measurements with dkdq < h. A sharper bound is obtained by applying the Hilbert-Schmidt-norm. As our main result the least upper bound of P is determined. All bounds are independent of the order with which the measuring of position and momentum is made.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0303005,
  title  = {A single particle uncertainty relation},
  author = {Thomas Schürmann},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0303005},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

5 pages, 1 figure, revtex4, title changed