Harmonic Oscillators, Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle and Simultaneous Measurement Precision for Position and Momentum

Abstract

At the recent QSCP XIX, the author claimed a procedure of using a scaled Fourier transform (the scaling being determined by the detailed interaction and particle mass for a harmonic oscillator) to achieve simultaneous resolution of position and momentum greater than the standard Heisenberg value of 1/2. The procedure is, in fact, invalid for quantum mechanics. The purpose of this paper is simply to give the correct analysis of the uncertainty product, thereby clarifying the error made.