Noncommutative quantum mechanics in a time-dependent background

Abstract

We investigate a quantum mechanical system on a noncommutative space for which the structure constant is explicitly time dependent. Any autonomous Hamiltonian on such a space acquires a time-dependent form in terms of the conventional canonical variables. We employ the Lewis-Riesenfeld method of invariants to construct explicit analytical solutions for the corresponding time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation. The eigenfunctions are expressed in terms of the solutions of variants of the nonlinear Ermakov-Pinney equation and discussed in detail for various types of background fields. We utilize the solutions to verify a generalized version of Heisenberg's uncertainty relations for which the lower bound becomes a time-dependent function of the background fields. We study the variance for various states, including standard Glauber coherent states with their squeezed versions and Gaussian Klauder coherent states resembling a quasiclassical behavior. No type of coherent state appears to be optimal in general with regard to achieving minimal uncertainties, as this feature turns out to be background field dependent.