Maximal localizability of photons

Arkadiusz Jadczyk, Bernard Jancewicz

Published Jan 1, 1973• 7 citations

Abstract

We show that simple geometric requirements lead to a unique position operator for the photon. The different components of the position do not commute. We investigate also the problem of maximal localizability and we draw the conclusion that for every closed curve there is a photon state localized on this curve. Note: This paper was published in Bulletin de l’Academie Polonaise de Sciences, Serie des sciences math. astr. et phys., Vol XXI, No 5, 1972, pp. 477-483. The original paper has ”for every closed space-like curve there are exactly two independent photon states corresponding to helicities ±1 localized on this curve. ” The conclusion in this form is incorrect.

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