This question disusses the same concepts as that question (this time in quantum context). Consider a relativistic system in spacetime dimension D. Poincare symmetry yields the conserved charges M (a 2-form associated with Lorentz symmetry) and P (a 1-form associated with translation symmetry). The center-of-mass trajectory x is defined by the equations
x∧P+s=M
iPs=0
I'm implicitely identifying vectors and 1-forms using the spacetime metric η
Define X to be the point on the center-of-mass trajectory for which the spacelike interval to the origin is maximal. Substituting X into the 1st equation, applying iP and using the 2nd equation and (P,X)=0 yields
X=−iPMm2
Passing to quantum mechanics, this equation defines X as vector of self-adjoint operators, provided we use symmetric operator ordering the resolve the operator ordering ambiguity between P and M. In particular these operators are defined on the Hilbert space of a quantum mechanical particle of mass m and spin s.
What is the spectrum of the operator X2, for given m, s and D?
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