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June 1, 1961Physical Review490 citations

Time in the Quantum Theory and the Uncertainty Relation for Time and Energy

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YAYakir AharonovDBDavid Böhm

Key Points

  • To critically evaluate the formulation of the time-energy uncertainty relation in quantum mechanics, where time functions as a parameter rather than a quantum operator.
  • Reviewed and analyzed conventional theoretical derivations asserting a minimum uncertainty in energy transfer during measurement across a time interval.
  • Assessed whether conventional uncertainty relations comply with core quantum mechanical formalisms involving operators and wave functions.
  • Formulated an alternative systematic theoretical model of time and constructed a concrete counterexample of a measurement process.
  • Demonstrated that the standard uncertainty relation is not universally consistent with quantum theory because time lacks a direct operator representation in Schrödinger's equation.
  • Showed that prior derivations relied on overly restrictive measurement examples, establishing that precise energy measurements are theoretically possible in arbitrarily short time intervals.

Abstract

Because time does not appear in Schr\"odinger's equation as an operator but only as a parameter, the time-energy uncertainty relation must be formulated in a special way. This problem has in fact been studied by many authors and we give a summary of their treatments. We then criticize the main conclusion of these treatments; viz. , that in a measurement of energy carried out in a time interval, , there must be a minimum uncertainty in the transfer of energy to the observed system, given by (E^'-E) >~h. We show that this conclusion is erroneous in two respects. First, it is not consistent with the general principles of the quantum theory, which require that all uncertainty relations be expressible in terms of the mathematical formalism, i. e. , by means of operators, wave functions, etc. Secondly, the examples of measurement processes that were used to derive the above uncertainty relation are not general enough. We then develop a systematic presentation of our own point of view, with regard to the role of time in the quantum theory, and give a concrete example of a measurement process not satisfying the above uncertainty relation.

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Cite This Study

Aharonov et al. (1961) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0e9fe88da6dd0461479e21https://doi.org/10.1103/physrev.122.1649
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