Gauss linking number and the electromagnetic uncertainty principle

Abhay Ashtekar, Alejandro Corichi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is shown that there is a precise sense in which the Heisenberg uncertainty between fluxes of electric and magnetic fields through finite surfaces is given by (one-half [Formula presented] times) the Gauss linking number of the loops that bound these surfaces. To regularize the relevant operators, one is naturally led to assign a framing to each loop. The uncertainty between the fluxes of electric and magnetic fields through a single surface is then given by the self-linking number of the framed loop which bounds the surface.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2073-2079
Number of pages7
JournalPhysical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology
Volume56
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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