uncertainty principle

A principle in quantum mechanics holding that greater accuracy of measurement for one observable quantity entails less accuracy of measurement for another conjugate quantity.

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uncertainty principle

(General Physics) the principle that energy and time or position and momentum of a quantum mechanical system, cannot both be accurately measured simultaneously. The product of their uncertainties is always greater than or of the order of h, where h is the Planck constant. Also known as: Heisenberg uncertainty principle or indeterminacy principle

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uncer′tainty prin`ciple

the quantum-mechanical principle, formulated by Heisenberg, that measuring either of two related quantities, as position and momentum or energy and time, produces uncertainty in measurement of the other.

[1930–35]

un·cer·tain·ty principle

(ŭn-sûr′tn-tē)

A principle in quantum mechanics stating that it is impossible to measure both the position and the momentum of very small particles (such as electrons) at the same time with accuracy. According to this principle, the more accurately the position of a small particle is known, the less accurately its mass and velocity can be known, and the more accurately its mass and velocity are known, the less accurately its position can be known. The uncertainty principle and the theory of relativity form the basis of modern physics.

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ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

uncertainty principle - (quantum theory) the theory that it is impossible to measure both energy and time (or position and momentum) completely accurately at the same time

indeterminacy principle

scientific theory - a theory that explains scientific observations; "scientific theories must be falsifiable"

quantum theory - (physics) a physical theory that certain properties occur only in discrete amounts (quanta)

Translations

uncertainty principle

n (Phys) → Unbestimmtheits- or Ungenauigkeits- or Unschärferelation f

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References in periodicals archive

This limit is expressed by the Heisenberg uncertainty relation, which states that it is impossible to simultaneously predict, for example, the measurements of a particle's position and momentum, or of two components of a spin, with arbitrary precision.

Quantum Mechanical Paradox Observed

According to the uncertainty relation [DELTA]p [greater than or equal to] h/[DELTA]x and the lower limit of tunneling particle energy [30, 31] [omega] [greater than or equal to] h/[DELTA]x, near the event horizon, the uncertainty of the position can be taken as the radius of the black hole [30, 31]; that is, [DELTA]x [approximately equal to] [r.sub.BH] = [r.sub.+].

Remark on Remnant and Residue Entropy with GUP

[4] Masanao Ozawa, Physical content of Heisenberg's uncertainty relation: limitation and reformulation, Physics Letters A 318 (2003), 21-29

Expanding uncertainty principle to certainty-uncertainty principles with Neutrosophy and Quad-stage Method

This exchange is mediated by Heisenberg's uncertainty relation:

The real/virtual exchange of quantum particles as a basis for the resolution of wave-particle duality and other anomalies of the quantum phenomena

This is the WVD; hence we obtain a new uncertainty relation for the WVD.

Uncertainty principles for Wigner-Ville distribution associated with the linear canonical transforms

The standard coordinate-momentum Heisenberg's uncertainty relation reads

An engineering approach to time-frequency uncertainty criteria/ Laiko ir daznio neapibreztumo kriterijaus inzinerinis nustatymas

We also show the so-called uncertainty relation between the band-width and the second moment of the square of the interferogram.

Optimal design of optical filter for white light interferometry based on sampling theory

Table 4 reports results from Granger-causality tests of the inflation-inflation uncertainty relation with lags of four, eight, and 12 months.

The relationship between inflation and inflation uncertainty in emerging market economies

"The Heisenberg uncertainty relation has nothing to do with wave-particle duality."

Wave or particle? Heisenberg, take a hike!

Brau, "Minimal length uncertainty relation and the hydrogen atom," Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, vol.

Quantum Gravity Effects in Statistical Mechanics with Modified Dispersion Relation

of the resulting Uncertainty relation (see for example [8] and [9, pp.

The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle and the Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem