Klein-Gordon Operator: Creating Particles at Position x

In summary, the conversation discusses the Klein-Gordon field as an operator that creates a particle at a specific position in space. While the mathematical derivation is sound, the physical implications are questioned due to the uncertainty principle. However, it is explained that the uncertainty principle only affects our knowledge of the particle's momentum, not its ability to be localized. The conversation then delves into the relationship between position and momentum in the context of relativity, concluding that the momentum of a relativistic particle can be infinitely large while its velocity remains below the speed of light.
  • #1
Silviu
624
11
Hello! I read that the Klein-Gordon field can be viewed as an operator that in position space, when acted upon vacuum at position x creates a particle at position x: ##\phi(x) |0 \rangle \propto |x \rangle##. It make sense intuitively and the mathematical derivation is fine too, but I was wondering what does it physically means, as according to uncertainty principle, you can't have a localized particle. So what exactly does it mean to create a particle at position x?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
You can localise a particle as much as you like. Uncertainity principle only tells you that your knowledge about the momentum of the particle will decrease the more you localise it.
 
  • #3
DrDu said:
You can localise a particle as much as you like. Uncertainity principle only tells you that your knowledge about the momentum of the particle will decrease the more you localise it.
I know this. But based on this definition of Klein-Gordon operator, you know the position of particle with 0 error, which means that you should know the momentum with infinite error, which is, the particle can have any momentum from 0 to infinity. But this is not possible, as the particle can't travel faster than light and you know the mass of the particle as you know what particle you create, and the particle is not virtual, so its mass is known (of course with a certain uncertainty, but again a finite one). Is this logic wrong?
 
  • #4
The momentum of a relativistic particle can get as large as you like, yet it's velocity is always smaller than c.
Namely ## p=\frac{mv}{\sqrt{1-v^2/c^2}}##.
 
  • Like
Likes vanhees71

Similar threads

Back
Top