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Intrinsic Heisenberg-type lower bounds on spacelike hypersurfaces in general relativity

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2026-02-05 v4 Mathematical Physics math.MP Quantum Physics

Abstract

In quantum theory on curved backgrounds, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle is usually discussed in terms of ensemble variances and flat-space commutators. Here we take a different, preparation-based viewpoint tailored to sharp position measurements on spacelike hypersurfaces in general relativity. A projective localization is modeled as a von Neumann-L\"uders projection onto a geodesic ball BΣ(r)B_\Sigma(r) of radius rr on a Cauchy slice (Σ,h)(\Sigma,h), with the post-measurement state described by Dirichlet data. Using DeWitt-type momentum operators adapted to an orthonormal frame, we construct a geometric, coordinate-invariant momentum standard deviation σp\sigma_p and show that strict confinement to BΣ(r)B_\Sigma(r) enforces an intrinsic kinetic-energy floor. The lower bound is set by the first Dirichlet eigenvalue λ1\lambda_1 of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on the ball, σpλ1\sigma_p \ge \hbar\sqrt{\lambda_1}, and is manifestly invariant under changes of coordinates and foliation. A variance decomposition separates the contribution of the modulus ψ|\psi| from phase-gradient fluctuations and clarifies how the spectral geometry of (Σ,h)(\Sigma,h) controls momentum uncertainty. Assuming only minimal geometric information, weak mean-convexity of the boundary yields a universal, scale-invariant Heisenberg-type product bound, σprπ/2\sigma_p r \ge \pi\hbar/2, depending only on the proper radius rr.

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Cite

@article{arxiv.2510.01628,
  title  = {Intrinsic Heisenberg-type lower bounds on spacelike hypersurfaces in general relativity},
  author = {Thomas Schürmann},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.01628},
  year   = {2026}
}

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23 pages