Relativistic Hamiltonian dynamics

Gintautas Kamuntavičius, Gintautas Kamuntavičius

In this paper, we examine quantum systems with relativistic dynamics. We show that for a successful description of these systems, the application of Galilei invariant nonrelativistic Hamiltonian is necessary. To modify this Hamiltonian to relativistic dynamics, we require precise relativistic kinetic energy operators instead of nonrelativistic ones for every internal (Jacobi) coordinate. Finally, we introduce and investigate the Schrödinger equation with relativistic dynamics for two-particle systems with harmonic oscillator and Coulomb potentials.

Richard F. Arens

Ritwik Mondal, Peter M. Oppeneer

A relativistic spin operator cannot be uniquely defined within relativistic quantum mechanics. Previously, different proper relativistic spin operators have been proposed, such as spin operators of the Foldy-Wouthuysen and Pryce type, that both commute with the free-particle Dirac Hamiltonian and represent constants of motion. Here we consider the dynamics of a relativistic electron spin in an external electromagnetic field. We use two different Hamiltonians to derive the corresponding spin dynamics. These two are: (a) the Dirac Hamiltonian in the presence of an external field, and (b) the semirelativistic expansion of the same. Considering the Foldy-Wouthuysen and Pryce spin operators we show that these lead to different spin dynamics in an external electromagnetic field, which offers possibilities to distinguish their action. We find that the dynamics of both spin operators involve spin-dependent and spin-independent terms, however, the Foldy-Wouthuysen spin dynamics additionally accounts for the relativistic particle-antiparticle coupling. We conclude that the Pryce spin operator provides a suitable description of the relativistic spin dynamics in a weak-to-intermediate external field, whereas the Foldy-Wouthuysen spin operator is more suitable in the strong field regime.

Mark Linne

K. Kowalski

Abstract The Bohmian trajectories for a free spinless relativistic particle that is initially in a coherent state are studied in the Hamiltonian dynamics based on the Salpeter equation as an alternative to the Klein–Gordon Equation. The guidance equation is introduced utilizing the probability density and relativistic probability current obtained from the Salpeter equation.