Noncommutative gravitational quantum well

O. Bertolami, J. G. Rosa, C. M. L. de Aragão, P. Castorina, and D. Zappalà
Phys. Rev. D 72, 025010 – Published 22 July 2005

Abstract

We study noncommutative geometry at the quantum mechanics level by means of a model where noncommutativity of both configuration and momentum spaces is considered. We analyze how this model affects the problem of the two-dimensional gravitational quantum well and use the latest experimental results for the two lowest energy states of neutrons in the Earth’s gravitational field to establish an upper bound on the fundamental momentum scale introduced by noncommutativity, namely, η1   meV/c, a value that can be improved in the future by up to 3 orders of magnitude. We show that the configuration space noncommutativity has, in leading order, no effect on the problem. We also analyze some features introduced by the model, especially a correction to the presently accepted value of Planck’s constant to 1 part in 1024.

  • Received 6 May 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.72.025010

©2005 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

O. Bertolami1,*, J. G. Rosa1,†, C. M. L. de Aragão2,‡, P. Castorina2,§, and D. Zappalà2,∥

  • 1Departamento de Física, Instituto Superior Técnico, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Catania and INFN-Sezione di Catania, Cittá Universitaria, Via S. Sofia 64, Catania, Italy

  • *Electronic address: orfeu@cosmos.ist.utl.pt
  • Electronic address: joaopedrotgr@sapo.pt
  • Electronic address: cristiane.aragao@ct.infn.it
  • §Electronic address: paolo.castorina@ct.infn.it
  • Electronic address: dario.zappala@ct.infn.it

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Issue

Vol. 72, Iss. 2 — 15 July 2005

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