Unitary equivalence in generalized uncertainty principle theories

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Authors: Sebastiano Segreto, Matteo Bruno
Cited by: 1
References: 30

Abstract

We analyze the issue of unitary equivalence within Generalized Uncertainty Principle (GUP) theories in the one-dimensional case. For a deformed Heisenberg algebra, its representation in terms of Hilbert space and conjugate operators is not uniquely determined, raising the question of whether different realizations of the same algebra are equivalent and describe the same physics. After proposing a definition of a quantum GUP theory, we establish conditions for unitary equivalence. Using this framework, we rigorously prove that two commonly used representations are unitarily equivalent, specifying the conditions under which this equivalence holds. We demonstrate this equivalence explicitly by providing a unitary map and showing how both GUP formulations yield the same physical results in two examples: the quantum harmonic oscillator and a free-falling particle. Finally, we discuss a case where equivalence fails, suggesting that a generalization of the Stone-von Neumann theorem may not be possible within the GUP framework under our definition of unitary equivalence.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Probabilistic and Robust Engineering Design

Publication details

Journal / source
Nuclear Physics B
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
1023
Pages
117294–117294
Publication date
3 January 2026
Language
EN