Introduction to Quantum Mechanics · Problem 3.43

Formalism — David J. Griffiths

Physics — Quantum Mechanics · extended_uncertainty_principle

Problem

Extended uncertainty principle. The generalized uncertainty principle (Equation 3.62) states that σA2σB2≥14⟨C⟩2,\sigma_A^2 \sigma_B^2 \ge \frac{1}{4}\langle C \rangle^2, where C^≡−i[A^,B^]\hat{C} \equiv -i\left[\hat{A}, \hat{B}\right]. (a) Show that it can be strengthened to read σA2σB2≥14(⟨C⟩2+⟨D⟩2),(3.115)\sigma_A^2 \sigma_B^2 \ge \frac{1}{4}\left(\langle C \rangle^2 + \langle D \rangle^2\right), \tag{3.115} where D^≡A^B^+B^A^−2⟨A⟩⟨B⟩\hat{D} \equiv \hat{A}\hat{B} + \hat{B}\hat{A} - 2\langle A \rangle \langle B \rangle. *Hint:* Keep the Re(z)\text{Re}(z) term in Equation 3.60. (b) Check Equation 3.115 for the case B=AB = A (the standard uncertainty principle is trivial, in this case, since C^=0\hat{C} = 0; unfortunately, the extended uncertainty principle doesn't help much either).

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