Skip to main content

Dirac’s form of relativistic quantum mechanics

  • Chapter
Book cover Special Relativity and Quantum Theory

Part of the book series: Fundamental Theories of Physics ((FTPH,volume 33))

  • 828 Accesses

Abstract

It is shown that Dirac’s “instant form” dynamics provides a theoretical framework in which models of relativistic quantum mechanics can be constructed. The convariant harmonic oscillator formalism discussed in previous papers is shown to be such a model. Dirac’s “point” and “front” forms are shown to generate a space-time geometry convenient for describing Lorentz deformation properties of relativistic extended hadrons.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Yo S. Kim and M. E. Nez, Am. J. Phys. 46. 484 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. R. P. Feynman, M. Kislinger, and F. Ravndal, Phys. Rev. D3, 2706 (1971). The point of this paper is that the inventor of Feynman diagrams stated that it is not practical, if not impossible, to use Feynman diagrams for relativistic bound-state problems. Feynm an et al. suggested that the relativistic harmonic oscillator model, even if it is not totally consistent, can serve useful purposes. The point of Ref. 1 is that the oscillator model does not have to be imperfect, and therefore that it can be made consistent with the known rules of quantum mechanics and special relativity.

    Google Scholar 

  3. The most successful bound-state model in field theory is of course the Bethe-Salpeter equation. However, the Bethe-Salpeter wave function does not yet have proper quantum-mechanical interpretation. See Sec. I of G. C. Wick, Phys. Rev. 96, 1124 (1954). The difficulty in giving a physical interpretation to the relative time-separation variable between two bound-state particles was mentioned earlier by Karplus and Klein. See R. Karplus and A. Klein, Phys. Rev. 87, 848 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  4. P. A. M. Dirac, Rev. Mod. Phys. 21, 392(1949).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Y. S. Kim, M. E. Noz, and S. H. Oh, Am. J. Phys. 47, 892 (1979); J. Math. Phys. 20, 1341 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  6. E. P. Wigner, Ann. Math. 40, 149 (1939).

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  7. P.A. M. Dirac, Proc. R. Soc. Landon A 114, 243, 710(1927).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. E, P. Wigner, in Aspectsof QuantumField Theory, inHonourofP.A.M. Dirac’s 70th Birthday, edited byA.Salam and E. P. Wigner (Cambridge University, Landon, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  9. W. Heitler, TheQuantumTheorya/Rad iation, 3rd ed. (Oxford University, London, 1954). See also D. Han, Y. S. Kim, and M. E. Noz, Found. Phys. (to be published).

    Google Scholar 

  10. YoS. Kim, M. E. Noz, and S. H. Oh, J. Math. Phys. 21,1224 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. This exponential form is also derivable from Yukawa’s work. See Eq. (101ofH. Yukawa, Phys. Rev. 91, 416 (19531. For an interpretation of this original paper, see D. Han and Y. S. Kim, Prog. Theor. Phys. 64, 1852 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  12. The fact that the proton (one of hadrons) is not a point particle and has aspace-time extension was discovered by Hofstadter. See R. Hofstad ter, Rev. Mod. Phys. 28, 214 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Since Hofstadter’s discovery, there have been many attempts to construct theoretical models for relativistic extended hadrons. See, for instance, V. N. Gribov, B. L. loffe, and I. Va. Pomeranchuk, J. Nuel. Phys. (USSR) 2, 768(1965) or Sov. J. Nucl. Phys. 2, 549 (1966); N. Byers and C. N. Yang. Phys. Rev. 142. 796 (1966); J. D. Bjorken and E. A Paschos, ibid. 185, 1975 (1969); B L Ioffee. Phys. Lett. B 30, 123 (1969):K. Fujimura, T. Kobayashi. and M. Namiki, Prog. Theor. Phys. 43.73 (19701; A. L. Licht and A. Pagnamenta, Phys. Rev. D 2. 1150. 1156 (1970): S.D. DrellandT.M. Yen.Ann. Phys. (NY)60. 578(1971). Y. S. Kim and R. Zaoui. Phys. Rev. D4, 1764 (1971); R.G. Lipes. ibid. 5.2 849 (1972);S. Ishida and J.Otokozawa. Prog. Theor. Phys. 47. 2117 (1972); T. D. Lee, Phys. Rev.D 5.1 738 (1972);G. Feldman, T. Fulton. and J. Town send, ibid. 7, 1814 (1973). Y. S. Kim and M. E. Nez. ibid. 8, 3521 (1973). See also Refs. I, 2, and the references contained therein.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Perhaps one of the curre nt models of extended hadrons is the “MIT bag model,” as is explain ed by K. John son in Sci. Am. 241 (I I, 112 (July J979). One Interestin g question in th is mode l is how bags” wou ld look to moving observers.

    Google Scholar 

  15. The quark confinement problem is regarded as one of the most imporlant current problems in the particl e th eor y front. The ultimate goal of this program is to find a pot ent ial that confines th e qu arks inside hard ons within the field th eoreti c framewor k of QCD (q uantum chro modyn amics). Th e basic quest ion is then th is. What are we going to do with thi s confining pot ent ial? Th e next step is natu rally to construct bound stale wave functions, which eventu all y leads to th e question of their Lorent z tran sformation prope rties. As was noted in QED (quantum electrody namics];’ this does not as yet appe ar to be an easy problem For an introdu cto ry review art icle on QCD, see W. Marcia no and H. Pagels. Phys. Rep. 36 C. 138 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  16. We have to say th at th e most import ant observation mad e on Lorent zdeformed hadrons was Feynman ‘s part on model. See R. P. Feynm un. In High Energy Collisions, Proceedings of th e 3rd Int ern ati onal Confe rence, Sto ny Brook, New York, edited by C. N. Yang ct al. (Gordo n and Breach, New York, 19691: Photon-Hadron Interactions Benjamin, Reading, MA, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  17. For an explanat ion of the peculi ariti es in Feynman’s pat to n pict ure, see Y. S. Kim and M. E. Noz, Phys. Rev. 0 15, 335 (1977l. For a graphi cal interp retat ion of the formulas in this paper, see Y. S. Kim and M. E. Noz, Found. Phys. 9. 375 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  18. For a calcula tion of th e pr oton str uctu re function, see P. E. Hussar. Phys. Rev. D23. 2781 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  19. For one of the most recent pape rs on this subject, see A. Kihlberg. R. Marnelius, and N. Mukunda, Phy. Rev. D 23, 2201 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  20. See. for instance, R. Fong and J. Sucher, J. Math. Phys. 5, 456 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Han, D., Kim, Y.S. (1988). Dirac’s form of relativistic quantum mechanics. In: Noz, M.E., Kim, Y.S. (eds) Special Relativity and Quantum Theory. Fundamental Theories of Physics, vol 33. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3051-3_22

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3051-3_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7872-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3051-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics