The Gravitational Quantum Well
Creators
- 1. Instituto Superior Tecnico, Departamento de Fisica, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon (Portugal)
Description
We discuss the implications of a model of noncommutative Quantum Mechanics where noncommutativity is extended to the phase space. We analyze how this model affects the problem of the two-dimensional gravitational quantum well and use the latest experimental results for the energy states of neutrons in the Earth's gravitational field to establish an upper bound on the fundamental momentum scale introduced by noncommutativity. We show that the configuration space noncommutativity has, in leading order, no effect on the problem and that in the context of the model, a correction to the presently accepted value of Planck's constant to 1 part in 1024 arises. We also study the transition between quantum and classical behaviour of particles in a gravitational quantum well and analyze how an increase in the particles mass turns the energy spectrum into a continuous one. We consider these effects and argue that they could be tested by through experiments with atoms and fullerene-type molecules
Availability note (English)
Available online at http://stacks.iop.org/1742-6596/33/118/jpconf6_33_011.pdf or at the Web site for the Journal of Physics. Conference Series (Online) (ISSN 1742-6596) http://www.iop.org/Additional details
Identifiers
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Journal of Physics. Conference Series (Online)
- Journal Volume
- 33
- Journal Issue
- 1
- Journal Page Range
- p. 118-130
- ISSN
- 1742-6596
Conference
- Title
- 4. meeting on constrained dynamics and quantum gravity
- Dates
- 2-16 Sep 2005
- Place
- Sardinia (Italy)
INIS
- Country of Publication
- United Kingdom
- Country of Input or Organization
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- INIS RN
- 37058812
- Subject category
- S72: PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS;
- Resource subtype / Literary indicator
- Conference
- Descriptors DEI
- ATOMS; COMMUTATION RELATIONS; CORRECTIONS; ENERGY SPECTRA; FULLERENES; GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS; MASS; MOLECULES; NEUTRONS; PHASE SPACE; QUANTUM MECHANICS; QUANTUM WELLS; TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
- Descriptors DEC
- BARYONS; CARBON; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; ELEMENTS; FERMIONS; HADRONS; MATHEMATICAL SPACE; MECHANICS; NANOSTRUCTURES; NONMETALS; NUCLEONS; SPACE; SPECTRA