We review the question of whether the fundamental laws of nature limit our ability to probe arbitrarily short distances. First, we examine what insights can be gained from thought experiments for probes of shortest distances, and summarize what can be learned from different approaches to a theory of quantum gravity. Then we discuss some models that have been developed to implement a minimal length scale in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. These models have entered the literature as the generalized uncertainty principle or the modified dispersion relation, and have allowed the study of the effects of a minimal length scale in quantum mechanics, quantum electrodynamics, thermodynamics, black-hole physics and cosmology. Finally, we touch upon the question of ways to circumvent the manifestation of a minimal length scale in short-distance physics.

中文翻译：

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量子引力的最小长度尺度场景。


我们回顾了自然的基本法则是否限制我们探测任意短距离的能力的问题。首先，我们研究从最短距离探测器的思想实验中可以获得哪些见解，并总结从量子引力理论的不同方法中可以学到什么。然后我们讨论一些为实现量子力学和量子场论中的最小长度尺度而开发的模型。这些模型已作为广义不确定性原理或修正色散关系进入文献，并允许研究量子力学、量子电动力学、热力学、黑洞物理学和宇宙学中最小长度尺度的影响。最后，我们讨论了如何规避短距离物理学中最小长度尺度的表现的问题。