Experimental test of uncertainty relations for quantum mechanics on a circle
Jaroslav Řeháček, Zdeněk Bouchal, Radek Čelechovský +2 more
We rederive uncertainty relations for the angular position and momentum of a particle on a circle by employing the exponential of the angle instead of the angle itself, which leads to circular variance as a natural measure of resolution. Intelligent states minimizing the uncertainty product under the constraint of a given uncertainty in angle or in angular momentum turn out to be given by Mathieu wave functions. We also discuss a number of physically feasible approximations to these optimal states. The theory is applied to the orbital angular momentum of a beam of photons and verified in an experiment that employs computer-controlled spatial light modulators at both the state preparation and analyzing stages.
arXiv:0712.0230•Physical Review A•Mar 24, 2008•33 citations