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On the Pauli-Weisskopf anti-Dirac paper

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Abstract

We review in this article the role which the work of Pauli and Weisskopf played in formulating a quantum field theory of spinless particles. To make our computations as transparent as possible, we offer a physicist’s derivation of the Klein-Gordon-Fock equation. Since invariant functions play a significant part in our paper, we will discuss them in great detail. We emphasize Pauli’s and Weisskopf’s view that Dirac’s hole theory is totally obsolete in formulating a consistent quantum field theory, be it for scalar or spinor particles. As an important example we present the calculation for producing charged scalar particles in an external electric field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 14, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    Walter Dittrich

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  1. Walter Dittrich
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Correspondence to Walter Dittrich.

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Dittrich, W. On the Pauli-Weisskopf anti-Dirac paper. EPJ H 40, 261–278 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjh/e2015-60006-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjh/e2015-60006-1

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