On the precision of a length measurement

2007/01/09 by Xavier Calmet, X. Calmet · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Relativity and Gravitational Theory #astro-ph #hep-ph #hep-th

paper · pdf · doi:10.1140/epjc/s10052-008-0538-1

published as Eur.Phys.J.C54:501-505,2008 · 5 pages, to appear in the proceedings of the 2006 International School of Subnuclear Physics in Erice and in ''Young Scientists'' online-only supplement of the European Physical Journal C-Direct (Springer)

arxiv created 2007/01/09 · openalex publication_date 2008/02/06 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31

Abstract

We show that quantum mechanics and general relativity imply the existence of a minimal length. To be more precise, we show that no operational device subject to quantum mechanics, general relativity and causality could exclude the discreteness of spacetime on lengths shorter than the Planck length. We then consider the fundamental limit coming from quantum mechanics, general relativity and causality on the precision of length measurement.

Citations

• The Phase Coherence of Light from Extragalactic Sources: Direct Evidence against First-Order Planck-Scale Fluctuations in Time and Space

Cited by

• Unitarity bounds on low scale quantum gravity
• Fundamental limit on angular measurements and rotations from quantum mechanics and general relativity