Deformed Heisenberg algebra with minimal length and the equivalence principle

Abstract

Studies in string theory and quantum gravity lead to the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) and suggest the existence of a fundamental minimal length which, as was established, can be obtained within the deformed Heisenberg algebra. The first look on the classical motion of bodies in a space with corresponding deformed Poisson brackets in a uniform gravitational field can give an impression that bodies of different mass fall in different ways and, thus, the equivalence principle is violated. Analyzing the kinetic energy of a composite body, we find that the motion of its center of mass in the deformed space depends on some effective parameter of deformation. It gives a possibility to recover the equivalence principle in the space with deformed Poisson brackets and, thus, GUP is reconciled with the equivalence principle. We also show that the independence of kinetic energy on composition leads to the recovering of the equivalence principle in the space with deformed Poisson brackets.