Quantum mechanics from a Heisenberg-type equality

Michael J.W. Hall*, Marcel Reginatto

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The usual Heisenberg uncertainty relation, ΔX ΔP ≥ ℏ/2, may be replaced by an exact equality for suitably chosen measures of position and momentum uncertainty, which is valid for all wavefunctions. This exact uncertainty relation, δX ΔPnc ≡ ℏ/2, can be generalised to other pairs of conjugate observables such as photon number and phase, and is sufficiently strong to provide the basis for moving from classical mechanics to quantum mechanics. In particular, the assumption of a nonclassical momentum fluctuation, having a strength which scales inversely with uncertainty in position, leads from the classical equations of motion to the Schrödinger equation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)646-651
Number of pages6
JournalFortschritte der Physik
Volume50
Issue number5-7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Quantum mechanics from a Heisenberg-type equality'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this