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Physical Review

Invariant Scalar Product and Observables in a Relativistic Theory of Particles of Arbitrary Spin

P. M. Mathews

Published Mar 25, 1966• 27 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In a recent paper a relativistically covariant Schr\"odinger equation was derived for particles of arbitrary spin $s$, locally covariant wave functions without redundant components being used to describe states of a particle. Here we determine the invariant scalar product with respect to which the representation of Poincar\'e transformations on these wave functions is unitary. It is shown that the conventional position and spin operators, not being Hermitian with respect to this scalar product, cannot be observables. New operators which can represent these observables are constructed with the aid of a generalized Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation which is determined explicitly for arbitrary spin.

DOI
10.1103/physrev.143.985

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In a recent paper a relativistically covariant Schr"odinger equation was derived for particles of arbitrary spin sss, locally covariant wave functions without redundant components being used to describe states of a particle. Here we determine the invariant scalar product with respect to which the representation of Poincar'e transformations on these wave functions is unitary. It is shown that the conventional position and spin operators, not being Hermitian with respect to this scalar product, cannot be observables. New operators which can represent these observables are constructed with the aid of a generalized Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation which is determined explicitly for arbitrary spin.
Since the important work of Newton and Wigner on the position operator and the localized states, several methods have been developed in the literature to deal with the problem of finding a position operator for relativistic systems. One of the most relevant has been the method based on the use of "canonical" transformations such as the Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation. In this paper, we strictly consider the Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation as a procedure which allows one to write the Bargmann-Wigner equations in a form which in the nonrelativistic limit leads to the Galilei-invariant Schr\"odinger equations for arbitrary spin. As a result of this interpretation, we derive for the position operator and the localized states of elementary systems the same expressions as Newton and Wigner; the spin operator is also obtained. Finally, the Chakrabarti transformation is considered in the same spirit.
The expressions for the dynamical operators corresponding to a Bargmann-Wigner particle of mass κ and arbitrary spin s are given, making use of the Foldy-Wouthuysen and Chakrabarti transformations for the Bargmann-Wigner equations given by Pursey, and Azcárraga and Boya, respectively. The operators selecting the positive and negative energy states are also given in the two representations. The operators for arbitrary spin are studied and a condition for an operator be constant of motion is given. Finally, the Newton-Wigner position operator and those obtained in the Foldy-Wouthuysen and Chakrabarti generalized representations are compared.
An examination is made of the consequences for the quantum mechanics of spinning particles of equations characteristic of Lorentz-covariant position variables. These equations are commutator analogs of the Poisson bracket equations that express the familiar transformation properties of space-time events in classical mechanics. For a particle of zero spin it is found that the usual canonical coordinate is the unique solution of these equations. For a particle with positive spin there is no position operator which satisfies these equations and has commuting components. For a particle and antiparticle there is a unique solution with commuting components which is valid for all values of the spin and reduces for zero spin to the canonical coordinate. For spin \textonehalf{} this is the Foldy-Wouthuysen transform of the position operator of the Dirac equation. A generalization of the inverse Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation, valid for any value of the spin, appears as a unique unitary transformation which takes this generalized Dirac position to the canonical coordinate. The application of this transformation to the canonical form of the Hamiltonian gives a generalization of the Dirac equation Hamiltonian. This is developed and compared with the literature for spin 1. It gives a nonlocal equation as the spin 1 analog of the Dirac equation.
The Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation for relativistic spin-1 particles interacting with nonuniform electric and uniform magnetic fields is performed. The Hamilton operator in the Foldy-Wouthuysen representation is determined. It agrees with the Lagrangian obtained by Pomeransky, Khriplovich, and Sen'kov. The validity of the Corben-Schwinger equations is confirmed. However, an attempt to generalize these equations in order to take into account the own quadrupole moment of particles was not successful. The known second-order wave equations are incorrect because they contain non-Hermitian terms. The correct second-order wave equation is derived.
Abstract Using the concept of distributions, the square root of the operator - Δ + m2 is taken in a mathematically well defined way for one component wave functions. A new representation of proper Lorentz transformations for one component wave functions makes it possible to construct a relativistic quantum mechanics for spin 0, comprising a Lorentz invariant wave equation, a scalar product, and a positive definite density satisfying, together with a current, a continuity equation, and coupling of scalar and vector potentials. Some interesting consequences of the theory concerning the concept of particle trajectory and velocity of propagation of the probability amplitude are discussed in detail. As an example of practical application a perturbation theory for discrete states is set up.
We give a direct link between covariant description of Dirac particles in the abstract framework of unitary representation of the Poincaré group and description with the help of the Dirac equation. In this context we discuss the spin operator for a relativistic Dirac particle. We show also that the spin operator used in quantum field theory for spin s = 1/2 corresponds to the Foldy-Wouthuysen mean-spin operator. We hope that this formalism will be useful in the theory of relativistic quantum information.