1981Journal of Physics A Mathematical and GeneralOpen access

'Proper time' and the Dirac equation

John Ellis

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Abstract

In the theory of the Dirac equation in quantum mechanics, the Dirac matrix beta is taken to connect 'proper time' and coordinate time rates of change of operators. The usual Heisenberg equation for the coordinate time rate of change of an operator then leads to a Heisenberg-like equation for its proper time rate (the 'Hamiltonian' being analogous to the generator of proper time translations in classical mechanics). Certain terms have to be set to zero by the use of the Dirac equation, and this is here justified. The equivalence of the formalisms under these conditions is shown and the method entitles us to derive some well known results for the Dirac equation in a comparatively effortless manner. The present work justifies methods introduced by H.C. Corben (1961).

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In the theory of the Dirac equation in quantum mechanics, the Dirac matrix beta is taken to connect 'proper time' and coordinate time rates of change of operators. The usual Heisenberg equation for the coordinate time rate of change of an operator then leads to a Heisenberg-like equation for its proper time rate (the 'Hamiltonian' being analogous to the generator of proper time translations in classical mechanics). Certain terms have to be set to zero by the use of the Dirac equation, and this is here justified. The equivalence of the formalisms under these conditions is shown and the method entitles us to derive some well known results for the Dirac equation in a comparatively effortless manner. The present work justifies methods introduced by H.C. Corben (1961).

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Available abstract

In the theory of the Dirac equation in quantum mechanics, the Dirac matrix beta is taken to connect 'proper time' and coordinate time rates of change of operators. The usual Heisenberg equation for the coordinate time rate of change of an operator then leads to a Heisenberg-like equation for its proper time rate (the 'Hamiltonian' being analogous to the generator of proper time translations in classical mechanics). Certain terms have to be set to zero by the use of the Dirac equation, and this is here justified. The equivalence of the formalisms under these conditions is shown and the method entitles us to derive some well known results for the Dirac equation in a comparatively effortless manner. The present work justifies methods introduced by H.C. Corben (1961).

Key concepts: Dirac equation, Two-body Dirac equations, Dirac sea, Dirac algebra, Dirac spinor, Causal fermion system, Relativistic quantum mechanics, Dirac comb

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