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Uncertainty Principle state space of a single particle/object?

Physics Asked by Axid Ubish on April 7, 2021

My question is about mathematics in the context of physics

Imagine a series of quantum states of a single particle:

In the first state the particle has a certain position but an uncertain momentum

In the last state the particle has an uncertain position but a certain momentum

Also imagine all other possible (obeying the Uncertainty principle) states in between

What is the mathematical space that describes all those possible states (if we disregard all other information about the particle)?

Is this space applicable only to Quantum Mechanics or to any other physical system with a similar tradeoff? By "similar tradeoffs" I mean cases like this:

a narrow spread of possible outcomes for one experiment necessarily implies a wide spread of possible outcomes for another

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_state

P.S.: A similar question(s)

What is the single particle Hilbert space? is a similar question, but it talks not only about position and momentum but about all other information too

But I am only interested in the former

Also I’ve seen this "Uncertainty Principle for a Totally Localized Particle" post

One Answer

Imagine a series of quantum states of a single particle:

In the first state the particle has a certain position but an uncertain momentum

In the last state the particle has an uncertain position but a certain momentum

Also imagine all other possible (obeying the Uncertainty principle) states in between

What is the mathematical space that describes all those possible states (if we disregard all other information about the particle)?

States aren't uniquely determined by their position and momentum uncertainties, so there isn't a unique mathematical description of the series of states you are describing.

However, as you have alluded to, quantum states can be described as elements of Hilbert space even if there isn't a unique way to mathematically move between such states.

As for this quote

a narrow spread of possible outcomes for one experiment necessarily implies a wide spread of possible outcomes for another

I think more needs to be said. I would instead say

a sufficiently narrow spread of possible outcomes for one experiment necessarily implies a wide spread of possible outcomes for another

If the quantum state is right up against an uncertainty principle limit, then yes, narrowing the uncertainty of one observable would necessarily mean that the uncertainty of another observable would have to widen. However, if a state is not near this limit, then narrowing one uncertainty would not need to be accompanied with the widening of another. This further points to the idea that one cannot determine a unique description of the series of states that you describe.

Correct answer by BioPhysicist on April 7, 2021

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