The principles of quantum mechanics impose certain restrictions on acceptable position operators. The probability density as derived from the position operator should agree with the fourth component of the current vector. The various relativistic wave equations are reexamined from the point of view of this consistency test. These and the group theoretical considerations lead to the conclusion that only a Dirac particle can be considered to be elementary. The position operator of the infinite-dimensional theories is investigated and the advantages of theories using the unitary representations of the Lorentz group are discussed.
The principles of quantum mechanics impose certain restrictions on acceptable position operators. The probability density as derived from the position operator should agree with the fourth component of the current vector. The various relativistic wave equations are reexamined from the point of view of this consistency test. These and the group theoretical considerations lead to the conclusion that only a Dirac particle can be considered to be elementary. The position operator of the infinite-dimensional theories is investigated and the advantages of theories using the unitary representations of the Lorentz group are discussed.
The search for a theory of the elementary particles which is founded on the well-established principles of quantum mechanics and conforms at the same time with the requirements of the principle of relativity has, in recent years, taken several divergent directions. On the one hand, the second quantization of wave fields derived from a Lagrangian by a variational procedure(1) has succeeded in accounting for the existence and most of the properties of the electron, the photon, and the meson. On the other hand, many generalizations of the Dirac wave equation of the electron(2) have been attempted, with applications to the meson(3) and the proton(4). Heisenberg(5) has considered the much more difficult problem of the interaction between different particles, and has found that the key to the situation is the so-called ‘scattering matrix’, which is nothing other than a limiting form of the relativistic density matrix, as defined in § 2 of this paper. It seems probable that the relativistic density matrix ρ; or statistical operator, as it may be called without reference to representation, will play an important part in relativistic quantum mechanics in the future. It satisfies the same equation as the wave function, but differs from it in being a real linear operator, or a dynamical variable, in the terminology of Dirac.
The purpose of this paper is to find to what extent the notion of position in the relativistic quantum mechanics of free elementary systems of nonzero mass is defined (or precluded) by the requirement that the descriptions of a localized state as seen from two observers in different frames of reference should be physically consistent. Neither the existence of a time component of the position operator nor the compatibility of the space components of position is assumed. Hermiticity with respect to the quantum-relativistic scalar product in state-vector space is neither assumed nor rejected. There are three possibilities: (i) The position is represented as usual by a Hermitian operator; this is the point-type position. (ii) Non-Hermitian operators are accepted, and the k component of position can represent segments of the k axis with length of the order of m1; when the operator is not only non-Hermitian, but also non-normal, this is the extended-type position. (iii) Non-Hermitian operators are accepted, but the segments are reduced to points; this is the limiting case of the extended-type position. Case (ii) is not studied in this paper. General conditions are found for any spin as regards cases (i) and (iii), and their consequences are obtained for spin 0 and spin \textonehalf{}. The results are the following: There is no position operator in case (i), but in case (iii) the position operator is unique for spin 0 and unique up to a parameter for spin \textonehalf{}. For both spins, in spite of the lack of relativistic Hermiticity, the eigenvalues of position are real, and the velocity is the expected one. The eigenstates of one component of the position are found. The components of the position are compatible with each other for spin 0, and incompatible for spin \textonehalf{}. In the former case, the simultaneous eigenstates of all components are Philip's class-I localized states. Related work is discussed.
The present series of papers is devoted to the localization problem in relativistic quantum mechanics. The consequences of imposing the condition that the descriptions of a localized state seen from two different frames of reference should be physically consistent were investigated in Paper II. Only instantaneous localization was studied. Considering elementary systems of nonzero mass and spin 0 and \textonehalf{}, the following results were found. (a) As regards the localization problem, one cannot avoid accepting at least one of the following strong departures from the usual ideas: (i) Position has no meaning; (ii) it violates the physical equivalence of inertial frames; (iii) it is the only quantum variable which cannot be represented by an operator; (iv) it is non-Hermitian; (v) some unusual interaction effects do not disappear when the interaction is switched off. (b) If a component of position is to be precisely measurable as a point, then for spin 0 there is only one possible position operator; for spin \textonehalf{} the operator is unique up to a parameter; in both cases the operators are non-Hermitian with respect to the relativistically invariant scalar product, but in spite of this the eigenvalues of all components are real. The components of position are compatible with each other for spin 0 and incompatible for spin \textonehalf{}. The communication relations of position with linear momentum are the standard ones. The velocity operator, which is Hermitian, has the expected form. Several authors have stated that the localization problem can have a solution for mass greater than zero, but for the zero-mass case a solution does not exist. In this paper the localization problem is studied for zero-mass elementary systems by only imposing, as in Paper II, the above requirement of physical consistency. We consider systems with spin 0, \textonehalf{}, and 1. We prove that the consequences are essentially the same as those obtained for systems of mass greater than zero. The parameter is no longer arbitrary.
The present study explores a theoretical extension of relativistic quantum wave equations through the introduction of complex space-time coordinates. The motivation for this approach arises from persistent conceptual challenges in relativistic quantum mechanics, particularly those related to probability interpretation and particle localization. By reformulating the Klein?Gordon and Dirac equations within a complex coordinate framework, the paper examines how the mathematical structure of these equations can be broadened without compromising fundamental physical principles. The analysis shows that treating the wave function as an analytic entity in complex space-time provides additional flexibility in handling boundary conditions and singularities. It also offers a refined perspective on the interpretation of solutions, especially in cases where traditional real-valued formulations lead to ambiguities. The study further demonstrates that Lorentz invariance can be preserved through analytic continuation, ensuring consistency with relativistic requirements. Although the framework remains theoretical, it suggests that complexification of space-time may serve as a useful tool in addressing certain limitations of relativistic quantum theory. The findings indicate that this approach has the potential to contribute to ongoing developments in quantum field theory and may provide a conceptual bridge toward more generalized formulations of quantum physics.
Probabilistic description of results of measurements and its consequences for understanding quantum mechanics are discussed. It is shown that the basic mathematical structure of quantum mechanics like the probability amplitudes, Born rule, probability density current, commutation and uncertainty relations, momentum operator, rules for including scalar and vector potentials and antiparticles can be derived from the definition of the mean values of powers of space coordinates and time. Equations of motion of quantum mechanics, the Klein-Gordon equation, Schrödinger equation and Dirac equation are obtained from the requirement of the relativistic invariance of the theory. The limit case of localized probability densities leads to the Hamilton-Jacobi equation of classical mechanics. Many-particle systems are also discussed.