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## Extremum principles - is there action below hbar/2?

<jabberwocky><div class="vbmenu_control"><a href="jabberwocky:;" onClick="newWindow=window.open('','usenetCode','toolbar=no,location=no, scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,status=no,width=650,height=400'); newWindow.document.write('<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Usenet ASCII</TITLE></HEAD><BODY topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 BGCOLOR=#F1F1F1><table border=0 width=625><td bgcolor=midnightblue><font color=#F1F1F1>This Usenet message\'s original ASCII form: </font></td></tr><tr><td width=449><br><br><font face=courier><UL><PRE>I am starting to collect material for the new version of the\nmotion mountain physics text. For this, I have started a discussion\non the German newsgroup de.sci.physik which might be of interest also\nover here. My sparring partner there is Norbert Dragon, well-known for\nhis\nexcellent research in and teaching of physics. We are presently\ndiscussing\nthe following issue:\n\nIs it possible in nature to measure action values below hbar/2?\n\nI claim that this is impossible; he is not so sure.\n\nArguments in favour:\n- is part of Einstein-Brillouin-Keller quantization\n- no experimental evidence to the contrary\n- experimental evidence in favour (e.g. photons)\n- ecplains tunneling, particle decay, particle reactions\n\nArguments against:\n- never heard of it, not in the books;\n- spin 0 particles do exist; spin and action has the same dimension,\nthus action values below hbar/2 are possible\n\nI would be especially interested in getting more arguments *against*\nthe thesis. For example, I would be interested in any experiment\n(in whatever setting) that claims to have measured action values below\nhbar/2. I would also translate some of the points made on\nboth sides.\n\nChristoph Schiller\n\nhttp://www.motionmountain.net\n\n</UL></PRE></font></td></tr></table></BODY><HTML>');"> <IMG SRC=/images/buttons/ip.gif BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER ALT="View this Usenet post in original ASCII form">&nbsp;&nbsp;View this Usenet post in original ASCII form </a></div><P></jabberwocky>I am starting to collect material for the new version of the
motion mountain physics text. For this, I have started a discussion
on the German newsgroup de.sci.physik which might be of interest also
over here. My sparring partner there is Norbert Dragon, well-known for
his
excellent research in and teaching of physics. We are presently
discussing
the following issue:

Is it possible in nature to measure action values below $\hbar/2$?

I claim that this is impossible; he is not so sure.

Arguments in favour:
- is part of Einstein-Brillouin-Keller quantization
$- no$ experimental evidence to the contrary
- experimental evidence in favour (e.g. photons)
- ecplains tunneling, particle decay, particle reactions

Arguments against:
- never heard of it, not in the books;
- spin particles do exist; spin and action has the same dimension,
thus action values below $\hbar/2$ are possible

I would be especially interested in getting more arguments *against*
the thesis. For example, I would be interested in any experiment
(in whatever setting) that claims to have measured action values below
$\hbar/2$. I would also translate some of the points made on
both sides.

Christoph Schiller

http://www.motionmountain.net

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