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Phys. Rev. D 65, 125027 (2002) [8 pages]

Exact solution of the harmonic oscillator in arbitrary dimensions with minimal length uncertainty relations

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Lay Nam Chang*, Djordje Minic, Naotoshi Okamura, and Tatsu Takeuchi§
Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Physics Department, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061

Received 20 November 2001; published 19 June 2002

We determine the energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the harmonic oscillator where the coordinates and momenta are assumed to obey the modified commutation relations [xi,pj]=iħ[(1+βp2)δij+βpipj]. These commutation relations are motivated by the fact that they lead to the minimal length uncertainty relations which appear in perturbative string theory. Our solutions illustrate how certain features of string theory may manifest themselves in simple quantum mechanical systems through the modification of the canonical commutation relations. We discuss whether such effects are observable in precision measurements on electrons trapped in strong magnetic fields.

© 2002 The American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevD.65.125027
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevD.65.125027
PACS:
03.65.Ge, 02.40.Gh

*Electronic address: laynam@vt.edu

Electronic address: dminic@vt.edu

Electronic address: nokamura@vt.edu

§Electronic address: takeuchi@vt.edu