Proving Unachievability of Absolute Zero: Uncertainty Principle

[Archosaur]

Is the uncertainty principle enough to prove that absolute zero is unachievable? i.e. a particle can't be said to have exactly zero energy, because it can't be said to have exactly any amount of energy.

 

[Feldoh]

The uncertainty principle relates tells us how we can relate two quantities we can measure.

A better way to understand is that for any given wave function in a determinant state of the Hamiltonian the lowest amount of energy is the ground state. If the ground state energy is not zero then it can't be absolute zero by default.

 

[f95toli]

No, but quantum mechanical effects mean that things (=atoms etc) will move even AT absolute zero (it is a common misconception that absolute zero means no motion).

 

[Feldoh]

No, but quantum mechanical effects mean that things (=atoms etc) will move even AT absolute zero (it is a common misconception that absolute zero means no motion).

Well how are you defining absolute zero?

 

[Archosaur]

I would think "zero kinetic energy" and thus "zero motion", no?