Minimum-uncertainty angular wave packets and quantized mean values
V. Alan Kostelecký, Bogdan Tudose
Uncertainty relations between a bounded coordinate operator and a conjugate momentum operator frequently appear in quantum mechanics. We prove that physically reasonable minimum-uncertainty solutions to such relations have quantized expectation values of the conjugate momentum. This implies, for example, that the mean angular momentum is quantized for any minimum-uncertainty state obtained from any uncertainty relation involving the angular-momentum operator and a conjugate coordinate. Experiments specifically seeking to create minimum-uncertainty states localized in angular coordinates therefore must produce packets with integer angular momentum. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
arXiv:quant-ph/9512030•Physical Review A•Apr 1, 1996•4 citations