Position-Momenta Uncertainties in Classical Systems by PK Mohanty

Abstract of the talk: We demonstrate that classical particles coupled to thermal baths that conserve angular momentum, or allow it to fluctuate about a nonzero mean, obey a position–momentum uncertainty relation formally analogous to the Heisenberg bound. For motion in an arbitrary central potential, this relation universally reduces to ΔxΔpx ＞ L/2 where L is the mean angular momentum (or the conserved initial value). We establish the physical realizability of such baths by constructing Langevin dynamics that preserve a Boltzmann energy distribution in steady state for both conserved and non-conserved angular momentum ensembles. We also outline experimental routes for observing this emergent classical uncertainty bound. More on Emergence at http://d-iep.org