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arXiv:2005.12258 · Classical and Quantum Gravity

On the quasi-position representation in theories with a minimal length

Pasquale Bosso

Published Feb 17, 2021• 44 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract Quantum mechanical models with a minimal length are often described by modifying the commutation relation between position and momentum. Although this represents a small complication when described in momentum space, at least formally, the (quasi-)position representation acquires numerous issues, source of misunderstandings. In this work, we review these issues, clarifying some of the aspects of minimal length models, with particular reference to the representation of the position operator.

DOI
10.1088/1361-6382/abe758

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Abstract Quantum mechanical models with a minimal length are often described by modifying the commutation relation between position and momentum. Although this represents a small complication when described in momentum space, at least formally, the (quasi-)position representation acquires numerous issues, source of misunderstandings. In this work, we review these issues, clarifying some of the aspects of minimal length models, with particular reference to the representation of the position operator.
Candidate theories of quantum gravity predict the presence of a minimal measurable length at high energies. Such feature is in contrast with the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. Therefore, phenomenological approaches to quantum gravity introduced models spelled as modifications of quantum mechanics including a minimal length. The effects of such modification are expected to be relevant at large energies/small lengths. One first consequence is that position eigenstates are not included in such models due to the presence of a minimal uncertainty in position. Furthermore, depending on the particular modification of the position–momentum commutator, when such models are considered from momentum space, the position operator is changed, and a measure factor appears to let the position operator be self-adjoint. As a consequence, the (quasi-)position representation acquires numerous issues. For example, the position operator is no longer a multiplicative operator, and the momentum of a free particle does not correspond directly to its wave number. Here, we will review such issues, clarifying aspects of minimal length models, with particular reference to the representation of the position operator. Furthermore, we will show how such a (quasi-)position description of quantum mechanical models with a minimal length affects results concerning simple systems.
Several approaches to quantum gravity imply the presence of a minimal measurable length at high energies. This is in tension with the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. Such a contrast is then considered in phenomenological approaches to quantum gravity by introducing a minimal length in quantum mechanics via the Generalized Uncertainty Principle. Several features of the standard theory are affected by such a modification. For example, position eigenstates are no longer included in models of quantum mechanics with a minimal length. Furthermore, while the momentum-space description can still be realized in a relatively straightforward way, the (quasi-)position representation acquires numerous issues. Here, we will review such issues, clarifying aspects regarding models with a minimal length. Finally, we will consider the effects of such models on simple quantum mechanical systems.
The commutation relations, uncertainty relations, and spectra of position and momentum operators were studied within the framework of quantum group symmetric Heisenberg algebras and their (Bargmann) Fock representations. As an effect of the underlying noncommutative geometry, a length and a momentum scale appear, leading to the existence of nonzero minimal uncertainties in the positions and momenta. The usual quantum mechanical behavior is recovered as a limiting case for not too small and not too large distances and momenta.
Although gravity could not be quantized yet, there are good theoretical evidences that the unification of General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics should lead to the existence of a minimal observable length, a length scale below which the very notion of length looses meaning. Such effect proves to be worth some further analysis, for it acts as a natural regulator parameter, thus avoiding the divergences that plague Quantum Field Theories. In order to investigate some of the physical consequences of the existence of this peculiar effect, we propose to include it in the framework of Quantum Mechanics by modifying the Heisenberg algebra (i.e., the commutation relation of position and momentum operators, Xˆ and Pˆ), so that a minimum non-zero value for the uncertainty ?x emerges, which, being a limitation to the localizability of particles, acts as a minimal length. The Hilbert space of the theory must be modified accordingly. As we will see, the changes are not merely quantitative. On the contrary, our main result is that the familiar concept of “position measurement” must be reformulated, as well as other concepts related to it. We present a proposal for such reformulation.
Abstract We develop a deformation quantization approach to quantum mechanics that exhibits a nonzero minimal uncertainty in position through the modification of commutation relations for the operators of position and momentum. Deformation quantization is a method of quantizing a classical Hamiltonian system by suitably deforming the Poisson algebra of the system. The developed theory of deformation quantization is non-formal. An appropriate integral formula for the star-product is introduced, along with a suitable space of functions on which the star-product is well defined. A C*-algebra of observables and a space of states are constructed. Moreover, an operator representation in momentum space is presented. Finally, an example of states of maximal localization is given in terms of generalized Wigner functions.