Searching for effects of Spatial Noncommutativity via a Penning Trap

Abstract

The possibility of testing spatial noncommutativity via a Penning trap is explored. The case of both space-space and momentum-momentum noncommuting is considered. Spatial noncommutativity leads to the spectrum of the orbital angular momentum of a Penning trap possessing fractional values, and in the limits of vanishing kinetic energy and subsequent vanishing magnetic field, this system has non-trivial dynamics. The dominant value of the lowest orbital angular momentum is $\hslash /4$, which is a clear signal of spatial noncommutativity. An experimental verification of this prediction by a Stern-Gerlach-type experiment is suggested.

Comments: 10 pages, no figure