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What I'm looking for is a molecular system, which we can produce in a lab, that is,

  1. A discrete variable system (ie, a finite dimensional hilbert space)
  2. It has observables that are incompatible with eachother (ie, two observables who's commutators equal $i\hbar$, or equivalently that their corresponding states are fourier transform dials of eachother).

Are there actually molecular systems out there that are relatively inexpensive to produce and measure in a lab?

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    $\begingroup$ No such system exists, your condition 1 and 2 are mutually exclusive, cf. physics.stackexchange.com/q/149786/50583. But why do you equate being "incompatible" with being Fourier conjugate variables? Usually, one would call compatible observables those that commute with each other, but the negation of that is simply...not commuting, which is much weaker a condition than having a constant commutator of $\mathrm{i}\hbar$. $\endgroup$
    – ACuriousMind ♦
    Commented Dec 26, 2018 at 13:35
  • $\begingroup$ Sorry, I got the terminology mixed up, Ignore the part about the incompatiable observables, what I meant was that I'm looking for a molecular system which has states that are simultaneously unmeasurable (like measuring position and momentum states), except for a discrete variable system. $\endgroup$
    – j00cy
    Commented Dec 26, 2018 at 13:49
  • $\begingroup$ I'm not sure what you're asking for then - any system has states that are eigenstates of one observable but not of another. Is anything about an atom with spin - as used e.g. in Stern-Gerlach experiments - and measuring spin along two different axes insufficient for you? Please edit your question so answerers will know better what you are looking for $\endgroup$
    – ACuriousMind ♦
    Commented Dec 26, 2018 at 13:53
  • $\begingroup$ Are you thinking of something like benzene, where the central ring is often shown as alternating single and double bonds. But in fact the bonds are sp2 hybrid orbitals. chemguide.co.uk/basicorg/bonding/benzene2.html $\endgroup$
    – mmesser314
    Commented Dec 26, 2018 at 14:00
  • $\begingroup$ As pointed out by ACuriousMind, you've asked for something that doesn't exist. Please clarify the question by using the "edit" button. If you just want a case with two observables that don't commute, then get rid of the bit about the commutator being equal to $i \hbar$. $\endgroup$
    – DanielSank
    Commented Dec 26, 2018 at 15:40

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A point defect in a semiconductor or insulator with spin, nuclear or electronic, is such a system. It has a finite number of spin states and not all spin operators commute. It is easy to prepare in a lab. An example is Si:P or the nitrogen vacancy complex in diamond.

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