Understanding the electron clock and the role of complex numbers in quantum mechanics is grounded in the geometry of spacetime, and best expressed with Spacetime Algebra (STA). The efficiency of STA is demonstrated with coordinate-free applications to both relativistic and non-relativistic QM. Insight into the structure of Dirac theory is provided by a new comprehensive analysis of local observables and conservation laws. This provides the foundation for a comparative analysis of wave and particle models for the hydrogen atom, the workshop where Quantum Mechanics was designed, built and tested.
Understanding the electron clock and the role of complex numbers in quantum mechanics is grounded in the geometry of spacetime, and best expressed with Spacetime Algebra (STA). The efficiency of STA is demonstrated with coordinate-free applications to both relativistic and non-relativistic QM. Insight into the structure of Dirac theory is provided by a new comprehensive analysis of local observables and conservation laws. This provides the foundation for a comparative analysis of wave and particle models for the hydrogen atom, the workshop where Quantum Mechanics was designed, built and tested.
All of the mathematical formulations of quantum mechanics describe the interaction between radiation and atoms, but we show here that only Einstein has been able to establish a solid logical connection with classical theory. His methods are used to interpret the other mathematical models by requiring that observables be described in a physically-defined coordinate system and that there be strict adherence to the conservation of momentum. The properties of momentum exchange are included in a quantum oscillator, or clock, by replacing the non-relativistic Hamiltonian model with a relativistically correct Lagrangian model. Equal contributions are assigned to photon, electron, and nucleus; and field boundaries are defined that coincide with the electron shells. The fields of the particles superpose linearly, but otherwise their physical integrity is maintained throughout. The Lagrangian model accounts for the 720 degree rotation of a wave function as an initial 360 degree electromagnetic wave cycle (photon absorption) followed by a second wave cycle (photon emission), yielding two wave cycles to correspond with one complete electron cycle. The abstract space of quantum mechanics is replaced by a real classical space.
This book covers the entire span of quantum mechanics whose developments have taken place during the early part of the twentieth century up till the present day. We start with the Rutherford-Bohr model of the atom followed by Schrodinger's wave mechanics with its application to the solution of calculating the energy spectrum of a particle in a box, the harmonic oscillator and finally the hydrogen atom. Heisenberg's matrix mechanics and its duality with Schrodinger's wave mechanics, quantum mechanics in the interaction picture. Dirac's relativistic theory of the electron exhibiting the spin of the electron as a relativistic effect when it interacts with an external electromagnetic field. Feynman's path integral approach to non-relativistic quantum mechanics with is a marvellous intuitive interpretation as a sum over paths and how classical mechanics is obtained from its limit as Planck' constant tends to zero, methods for computing the spectra of the Dirac Hamiltonian in a radial potential, quantum field theory as developed by Feynman, Schwinger, Tomonaga and Dyson for describing the interaction between electrons, positrons, and photons via propagators using both the operator theoretic expansions and Feynman's path integral. We also introduce time independent and time dependent perturbation theory in quantum mechanics with applications to quantum gate design for quantum computers forming a major part of the research conducted by the author's research group, Quantum noise introduced into the Schrodinger and Dirac's equation based on the Hudson-Parthasarathy quantum stochastic calculus in Boson Fock space, scattering theory and wave operators with applications to quantum gate design, some aspects of second quantization like the interpretation of Boson Fock space in terms of harmonic oscillator algebras and the BCS theory of superconductivity, Wigner-Mackey-Frobenius theory of induced representations of a group with applications to Wigner's theory of particle classification, Dirac's equation in a gravitational field and Yang-Mills non-Abelian gauge theories with application to the construction of unified quantum field theories and finally, the more recent theory of super-symmetry which is a Boson-Fermion unification theory. We have discussed the statistics of Boson's, Fermions and Maxwell-Boltzmann based on entropy maximization. The book is written in problem-solution format and it would be of use to physicists and engineers interested respectively in developing unified field theories and in the design of quantum gates. Note: T&F does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
It is often claimed that Einstein is wrong about quantum mechanics. However, when comparisons are made with respect to theoretical foundations rather than experimental results Einstein’s theories are found to be superior. Because he did not complete his theory its far-reaching, intuitively motivated derivations were never properly appreciated. It is the only theory based on a relativistically correct foundation, the time evolution of energy states, rather than the stipulation of energy eigenvalues in absolute time. Further development of his arguments based on the momentum reveals that although non-relativistic theory correctly predicts what it is possible to observe (the emissions) with remarkable accuracy it neglects the other half of natural phenomena, that which cannot be observed (the absorptions), thereby violating the conservation of energy. The deficiencies in non-relativistic theory are corrected by introducing Hamilton’s principle and deriving relativistic equations of motion. This allows quantum mechanical formalism in abstract space to be replaced by the superposition of particle field geometries in real space. Direct application of the calculus of variations to an electron cycle reveals that the wave function is incomplete because it requires twice the allowable action minimum.
This paper is a progress report on the foundations for the canonical proper-time approach to relativistic quantum theory. We first review the the standard square-root equation of relativistic quantum theory, followed by a review of the Dirac equation, providing new insights into the physical properties of both. We then introduce the canonical proper-time theory. For completeness, we give a brief outline of the canonical proper-time approach to electrodynamics and mechanics, and then introduce the canonical proper-time approach to relativistic quantum theory. This theory leads to three new relativistic wave equations. In each case, the canonical generator of proper-time translations is strictly positive definite, so that it represents a particle. We show that the canonical proper-time extension of the Dirac equation for Hydrogen gives results that are consistently closer to the experimental data, when compared to the Dirac equation. However, these results are not sufficient to account for either the Lamb shift or the anomalous magnetic moment.
It is often claimed that Einstein is wrong about quantum mechanics. However, when comparisons are made with respect to theoretical foundations rather than experimental results Einstein’s theories are found to be superior. Because he did not complete his own quantum theory its far-reaching, intuitively motivated derivations were never properly appreciated despite the fact that his is the only theory based on a relativistically correct foundation. The development of his arguments reveals that although non-relativistic theory correctly predicts what it is possible to observe (the emissions) with remarkable accuracy it neglects the other half of natural phenomena, that which cannot be observed (the absorptions), thereby violating the conservation of energy. The deficiencies in non-relativistic theory are corrected by applying Hamilton’s principle to derive relativistic equations of motion. This allows quantum mechanical formalism in abstract space to be interpreted as the juxtaposition of particle field geometries in real space. Direct application of the calculus of variations to an electron cycle reveals that the wave function is incomplete because it requires twice the allowable action minimum.
It is often claimed that Einstein is wrong about quantum mechanics. However, when comparisons are made with respect to theoretical foundations rather than experimental results Einstein’s theories are found to be superior. Because he did not complete his theory its far-reaching, intuitively motivated derivations were never properly appreciated despite the fact that his is the only theory based on a relativistically correct foundation. The development of his arguments reveals that although non-relativistic theory correctly predicts what it is possible to observe (the emissions) with remarkable accuracy it neglects the other half of natural phenomena, that which cannot be observed (the absorptions), thereby violating the conservation of energy. The deficiencies in non-relativistic theory are corrected by applying Hamilton’s principle and deriving relativistic equations of motion. This allows quantum mechanical formalism in abstract space to be replaced by the juxtaposition of particle field geometries in real space. Direct application of the calculus of variations to an electron cycle reveals that the wave function represents a non-conservative force which is incomplete because it requires twice the allowable action minimum.