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Optics Express

Relativistic suppression of wave packet spreading

Qichang C. Su, B. A. Smetanko, R. Grobe

Published Mar 30, 1998• 38 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We investigate numerically the solution of Dirac equation and analytically the Klein-Gordon equation and discuss the relativistic motion of an electron wave packet in the presence of an intense static electric field. In contrast to the predictions of the (non-relativistic) Schroedinger theory, the spreading rate in the field's polarization direction as well as in the transverse directions is reduced.

DOI
10.1364/oe.2.000277

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We investigate numerically the solution of Dirac equation and analytically the Klein-Gordon equation and discuss the relativistic motion of an electron wave packet in the presence of an intense static electric field. In contrast to the predictions of the (non-relativistic) Schroedinger theory, the spreading rate in the field's polarization direction as well as in the transverse directions is reduced.
Solving the Dirac equation is a formidable task due to the high frequency and the degrees of freedom involved. However, this high frequency allows one to obtain an approximation to the equation. Here, we directly solve the Dirac equation using an envelope method and derive analytical solutions of Dirac wave packets to first order for the small momentum spread. We apply the insight gained from this solution to the Zitterbewegung behavior in a Dirac-like system, where we show that it is crucial to include the first-order term in our solution to correctly describe a Dirac packet.
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The Klein-Gordon equation describes the wave-like behavior of spinless particles since it is Lorentz invariant. While it seemed initially ripe for explaining the electronic structure of the hydrogen atom, the lack of a unconditional positive probability density really limited its applications. Yet, it is intimately connected with fermions. Any solution to the Dirac equation is automatically a solution to the Klein-Gordon equation. What is even more surprising, the Klein-Gordon equation for a free particle turns into the Schrödinger equation in the non-relativistic limit. In this work we show that these problems disappear when we use the relativistic mass instead of the rest mass. While the Klein-Gordon equation losses its Lorentz invariance because of this transformation, it gains most of the features present the Schrödinger equation, including the unconditional positivity of probability density, while keeping most of its relativistic characteristics intact, including the matter-wave dispersion relation. What is even more surprising, the non-relativistic, quasi-static limit of the Klein-Gordon equation with relativistic mass is simply the Schrödinger equation under all possible conditions. So, it can be argued that this Klein-Gordon equation is a sort of relativistic Schrödinger equation.
A detailed consideration of the Klein-Gordon equation in relativistic quantum mechanics is presented in order to offer more clarity than many standard approaches. The equation is frequently employed in the research literature, even though problems have often been raised regarding its second-order nature, the status of its negative-energy solutions and the formulation of particle density and flux. Most of these problems can be avoided by dismissing the negative-energy solutions. An application of the equation to a broad wave-packet shows that a small amendment to the usual relativistic formalism can be helpful to demonstrate continuity with the non-relativistic case, although difficulties remain when the proposed quantum state has a broad relativistic energy distribution.
Quantum hydrodynamic equations are used to describe motion of single electron. The initial and boundary conditions are formulated from the analytic formula for the electron packet in a free space. The numerical integration of equations for the free packet is performed. Then, we investigated the wave packet propagation through the back-ground positive charge, when the electric field is self-consistent. Moreover, we studied the influence of the external harmonic electric fields on the properties of the motion. The purpose of the present work consists in study of the spatial-temporal processes including packets when the quantum wave effects are essential.