Physical Review A

Uncertainty relations for light waves and the concept of photons

D. Han, Y. S. Kim, Marilyn E. Noz

Published Feb 1, 1987• 19 citations

Abstract

A Lorentz-covariant localization for light waves is presented. The unitary representation for the electromagnetic four-potential is constructed for a monochromatic light wave. A model for covariant superposition is constructed for light waves with different frequencies. It is therefore possible to construct a wave function for light waves carrying a covariant probability interpretation. It is shown that the time-energy uncertainty relation (\ensuremath{\Delta}t)(\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\omega})\ensuremath{\simeq}1 for light waves is a Lorentz-invariant relation. The connection between photons and localized light waves is examined critically.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.35.1682

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