uncertainty principle

E107438

physical law principle of quantum mechanics

The uncertainty principle is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics stating that certain pairs of physical properties, such as position and momentum, cannot both be known to arbitrary precision simultaneously.

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All labels observed (3)

Label	Occurrences
Heisenberg uncertainty principle	14
uncertainty principle canonical	5
energy–time uncertainty principle	1

How this entity was disambiguated

This entity first appeared as the object of triple T909780 — resolving that mention is where its identity was fixed. The disambiguator weighed these candidate entities and picked the highlighted one (or “None”, minting a new entity). This is how homonymy is resolved: the same surface form can point to different entities.

NED1 Entity disambiguation (via context triple) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: uncertainty principle
Context triple: [Werner Heisenberg, notableWork, uncertainty principle]

A. Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics
Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics is John von Neumann’s landmark 1932 treatise that rigorously formulates quantum theory using functional analysis and operator theory on Hilbert spaces.
B. Wigner’s friend thought experiment
Wigner’s friend thought experiment is a foundational quantum mechanics scenario that explores the role of observers and consciousness in measurement by considering how different observers can assign conflicting quantum states to the same system.
C. Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics
The Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics is a foundational philosophical framework that emphasizes probabilistic wavefunctions, measurement-induced collapse, and the central role of observation in determining physical reality.
D. Bekenstein bound
The Bekenstein bound is a theoretical limit in physics on the maximum amount of information or entropy that can be contained within a finite region of space with a given amount of energy.
E. Mach principle
Mach principle is a philosophical and physical concept proposing that local inertial properties of matter are determined by the large-scale distribution of mass and energy in the universe.
F. None of above. chosen
G. Unsure - the case is ambiguous/there is not enough information to decide.

NED2 Entity disambiguation (via description) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: uncertainty principle
Target entity description: The uncertainty principle is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics stating that certain pairs of physical properties, such as position and momentum, cannot both be known to arbitrary precision simultaneously.

A. Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics
Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics is John von Neumann’s landmark 1932 treatise that rigorously formulates quantum theory using functional analysis and operator theory on Hilbert spaces.
B. Wigner’s friend thought experiment
Wigner’s friend thought experiment is a foundational quantum mechanics scenario that explores the role of observers and consciousness in measurement by considering how different observers can assign conflicting quantum states to the same system.
C. Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics
The Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics is a foundational philosophical framework that emphasizes probabilistic wavefunctions, measurement-induced collapse, and the central role of observation in determining physical reality.
D. Bekenstein bound
The Bekenstein bound is a theoretical limit in physics on the maximum amount of information or entropy that can be contained within a finite region of space with a given amount of energy.
E. Mach principle
Mach principle is a philosophical and physical concept proposing that local inertial properties of matter are determined by the large-scale distribution of mass and energy in the universe.
F. None of above. chosen

Statements (50)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	physical law ⓘ principle of quantum mechanics ⓘ
alsoKnownAs	Heisenberg uncertainty principle ⓘ linked to: uncertainty principle
appliesTo	angular position and angular momentum ⓘ energy and time ⓘ pairs of non-commuting observables ⓘ position and momentum ⓘ
category	physical principles ⓘ quantum theory concepts ⓘ
constantInvolved	reduced Planck constant ⓘ
contrastsWith	classical determinism of trajectories ⓘ
describes	fundamental limit to precision of simultaneous measurements ⓘ
doesNotImply	limitations of measurement technology only ⓘ
field	quantum mechanics ⓘ
formulatedBy	Werner Heisenberg ⓘ
generalizedBy	entropic uncertainty relations ⓘ
hasDimension	action (product of conjugate variables) ⓘ
hasExample	Gaussian wave packet minimizing uncertainty product ⓘ
hasGeneralFormulation	Robertson–Schrödinger uncertainty relation ⓘ
hasMathematicalForm	ΔE · Δt ≥ ħ/2 ⓘ Δx · Δp ≥ ħ/2 ⓘ
hasMinimumUncertaintyState	coherent state ⓘ
holdsFor	all quantum systems ⓘ
implies	intrinsic quantum indeterminacy ⓘ measurement disturbs quantum systems ⓘ no particle can have exactly defined position and momentum simultaneously ⓘ
influences	design of high-precision experiments ⓘ limits of simultaneous measurement precision ⓘ
isConsequenceOf	Fourier transform relations ⓘ non-commutativity of operators ⓘ wave–particle duality ⓘ
isPropertyOf	quantum states ⓘ
namedAfter	Werner Heisenberg ⓘ
philosophicalImpact	challenges classical determinism ⓘ influences debates on realism in physics ⓘ
publicationYear	1927 ⓘ
relatedTo	Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics ⓘ complementarity principle ⓘ measurement problem in quantum mechanics ⓘ quantum fluctuations ⓘ vacuum energy ⓘ
relatesConcept	probability distributions of measurement outcomes ⓘ standard deviation of observables ⓘ
symbolForConstant	ħ ⓘ
usedIn	analysis of quantum harmonic oscillator ⓘ quantum cryptography security proofs ⓘ quantum field theory ⓘ quantum metrology ⓘ quantum optics ⓘ stability of atoms ⓘ

How these facts were elicited