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Title: Minimal length effect on the broadening of free wave packets and its physical implications

Abstract

We study the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) modified time evolution for the width of wave packets for a scalar potential. The free particle case is solved exactly where the wave-packet broadening is modified by a coupling between the GUP parameter and higher-order moments in the probability distribution in momentum space. We consider two popular forms of deformations widely used in the literature—one of which modifies the commutator with a quadratic term in momentum, while the other modifies it with terms both linear and quadratic in momentum. Unlike the standard case, satisfying Heisenberg uncertainty, here the GUP modified broadening rates, for both deformations, not only depend on the initial size (in both position and momentum space) of the wave packet but also on the initial probability distribution and momentum of the particle. The new rates of wave-packet broadening, for both situations, are modified by a handful of new terms—such as the skewness and kurtosis coefficients, as well as the (constant) momentum of the particle. Comparisons with the standard Heisenberg uncertainty principle–based results show potentially measurable differences in the rates of free wave-packet broadening for physical systems such as the C60 and C176 molecules, and more so for large organic molecular wavemore » packets. In doing so, we open a path to scan the GUP parameter space by several orders of magnitude inside the best existing upper bounds for both forms of GUP.« less

Authors:
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); Univ. de Colima (Mexico)
  2. Univ. de Colima (Mexico)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
OSTI Identifier:
1523427
Report Number(s):
arXiv:1812.06112; FERMILAB-PUB-18-704
Journal ID: ISSN 2470-0010; PRVDAQ; 1709339
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-07CH11359
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physical Review D
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 100; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 2470-0010
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS

Citation Formats

Villalpando, Carlos, and Modak, Sujoy K. Minimal length effect on the broadening of free wave packets and its physical implications. United States: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.100.024054.
Villalpando, Carlos, & Modak, Sujoy K. Minimal length effect on the broadening of free wave packets and its physical implications. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.100.024054
Villalpando, Carlos, and Modak, Sujoy K. Fri . "Minimal length effect on the broadening of free wave packets and its physical implications". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.100.024054. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1523427.
@article{osti_1523427,
title = {Minimal length effect on the broadening of free wave packets and its physical implications},
author = {Villalpando, Carlos and Modak, Sujoy K.},
abstractNote = {We study the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) modified time evolution for the width of wave packets for a scalar potential. The free particle case is solved exactly where the wave-packet broadening is modified by a coupling between the GUP parameter and higher-order moments in the probability distribution in momentum space. We consider two popular forms of deformations widely used in the literature—one of which modifies the commutator with a quadratic term in momentum, while the other modifies it with terms both linear and quadratic in momentum. Unlike the standard case, satisfying Heisenberg uncertainty, here the GUP modified broadening rates, for both deformations, not only depend on the initial size (in both position and momentum space) of the wave packet but also on the initial probability distribution and momentum of the particle. The new rates of wave-packet broadening, for both situations, are modified by a handful of new terms—such as the skewness and kurtosis coefficients, as well as the (constant) momentum of the particle. Comparisons with the standard Heisenberg uncertainty principle–based results show potentially measurable differences in the rates of free wave-packet broadening for physical systems such as the C60 and C176 molecules, and more so for large organic molecular wave packets. In doing so, we open a path to scan the GUP parameter space by several orders of magnitude inside the best existing upper bounds for both forms of GUP.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevD.100.024054},
journal = {Physical Review D},
number = 2,
volume = 100,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jul 26 00:00:00 EDT 2019},
month = {Fri Jul 26 00:00:00 EDT 2019}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 15 works
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Figures / Tables:

FIG. 1 FIG. 1: Comparison of GUP wavepackets with various skewness and normal kurtosis. The spatial coordinate is along the X axis and the wavefunction is along the Y axis. The left column of figures 1(a), 1(c), 1(e) & 1(g) correspond to the normal vs negative skewness, whereas, the right column ofmore » figures 1(b), 1(d), 1(f) & 1(h) correspond to the normal vs positive skewness. The KMM form is used in Figs. 1(a) - 1(d) and the ADV form is used in 1(e) - 1(h). The first and third rows 1(a), 1(b), 1(e) & 1(f) correspond to C60, while, the second and fourth rows 1(c), 1(d), 1(g) & 1(h) correspond to C176.« less

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Figures/Tables have been extracted from DOE-funded journal article accepted manuscripts.