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arXiv:1204.2494 · Modern Physics Letters A

VARIATIONAL PROBLEM FOR THE FRENKEL AND THE BARGMANN–MICHEL–TELEGDI (BMT) EQUATIONS

Alexei A. Deriglazov

Published Dec 27, 2012• 15 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We propose Lagrangian formulation for the particle with value of spin fixed within the classical theory. The Lagrangian is invariant under non-Abelian group of local symmetries. On this reason, all the initial spin variables turn out to be unobservable quantities. As the gauge-invariant variables for description of spin we can take either the Frenkel tensor or the Bargmann–Michel–Telegdi (BMT) vector. Fixation of spin within the classical theory implies O(ℏ)-corrections to the corresponding equations of motion.

DOI
10.1142/s0217732312502343

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We propose Lagrangian formulation for the particle with value of spin fixed within the classical theory. The Lagrangian is invariant under non-Abelian group of local symmetries. On this reason, all the initial spin variables turn out to be unobservable quantities. As the gauge-invariant variables for description of spin we can take either the Frenkel tensor or the Bargmann–Michel–Telegdi (BMT) vector. Fixation of spin within the classical theory implies O(ℏ)-corrections to the corresponding equations of motion.
This is the first of a series of papers developing the classical theory of a spinning particle. The equations of motion will be derived from a Lagrangian, and solutions for the classical trajectory and spin precession in external fields will be given. In this paper an abstract spin vector is introduced to characterize the spin of a classical particle. Lagrangians for the classical trajectories and for the motion of the abstract spin vector are derived from corresponding quantum-mechanical Lagrangians by the WKBJ approximation method for nonrelativistic and relativistic particles. The equations of motion for the trajectory and the abstract spin vector following from the extremalization of these Lagrangians are given. The equations of motion for the precession in an external electromagnetic field of the spin vector (or tensor) in space–time is derived from the equations of motion for the abstract spin vector. In the relativistic case, they are equivalent to the Bargmann–Michel–Telegdi equations [Phys. Rev. Lett. 2, 435 (1959)]. The relationship between the ensemble and single-particle points of view is also elucidated.
The antisymmetric spin tensor of rank two used to describe the rotational motion of a particle is assumed to satisfy the constraint condition that the velocity 4-vector is orthogonal to it. Since the dipole moment is proportional to the spin tensor, this condition leads always to a purely magnetic dipole in the rest system of the particle. Frenkel has indicated how the action principle for the classical equations of motion can be set up treating the above constraint condition as a supplementary condition. The Hamiltonian dynamics of a system having supplementary conditions and Lagrange undetermined multipliers has been discussed recently by Dirac. Dirac's method and results previously obtained give the required Hamilton–Jacobi equations and Poisson Brackets of the dynamical variables. The cases where the particle behaves like a pure gyroscope and a symmetrical top are treated. When there is an interacting field, it is assumed that the action of the Held is given by the effective 4-vector potential without further specification. The orthogonality of the velocity to the tensor dual to the spin tensor can be imposed as an alternative constraint condition. This possibility is discussed briefly. The quantum formulation is completed with the help of the standard analogy rules.
Abstract. We study the Dirac equation with slowly varying external potentials. Using matrix-valued Wigner functions we prove that the electron follows with high precision the classical orbit and that the spin precesses The high precision experiments of the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron or the muon use in their interpretation the BMT equation for spin precession [1]. The derivation of Bargmann, Michel, and Telegdi [2] does not even mention quantum mechanics, however. Rather their arguments are