Cambridge University Press eBooks

Quantum theory and spinors

Chris Doran, Anthony Norden Lasenby

Published May 29, 2003• 1 citation

Abstract

In this chapter we study the application of geometric algebra to both nonrelativistic and relativistic quantum mechanics. We concentrate on the quantum theory of spin-1/2 particles, whose dynamics is described by the Pauli and Dirac equations. For interactions where spin and relativity are not important the dynamics reduces to that of the Schrödinger equation. There are many good textbooks describing this topic and we will make no attempt to cover it here. We assume, furthermore, that most readers have a basic understanding of quantum mechanics, and are familiar with the concepts of states and operators. Both the Pauli and Dirac matrices arise naturally as representations of the geometric algebras of space and spacetime. It is no surprise, then, that much of quantum theory finds a natural expression within geometric algebra. To achieve this, however, one must reconsider the standard interpretation of the quantum spin operators. Like much discussion of the interpretation of quantum theory, certain issues raised here are controversial. There is no question about the validity of our algebraic approach, however, and little doubt about its advantages. Whether the algebraic simplifications obtained here are indicative of a deeper structure embedded in quantum mechanics is an open question. In this chapter we only consider the quantum theory of single particles in background fields. Multiparticle systems are considered in the following chapter.

DOI: 10.1017/cbo9780511807497.010

Related papers

The Geometrical Meaning of Spinors Lights the Way to Make Sense of Quantum Mechanics

G. Coddens

This paper aims at explaining that a key to understanding quantum mechanics (QM) is a perfect geometrical understanding of the spinor algebra that is used in its formulation. Spinors occur naturally in the representation theory of certain symmetry groups. The spinors that are relevant for QM are those of the homogeneous Lorentz group SO(3,1) in Minkowski space-time R4 and its subgroup SO(3) of the rotations of three-dimensional Euclidean space R3. In the three-dimensional rotation group, the spinors occur within its representation SU(2). We will provide the reader with a perfect intuitive insight about what is going on behind the scenes of the spinor algebra. We will then use the understanding that is acquired to derive the free-space Dirac equation from scratch, proving that it is a description of a statistical ensemble of spinning electrons in uniform motion, completely in the spirit of Ballentine’s statistical interpretation of QM. This is a mathematically rigorous proof. Developing this further, we allow for the presence of an electromagnetic field. We can consider the result as a reconstruction of QM based on the geometrical understanding of the spinor algebra. By discussing a number of problems in the interpretation of the conventional approach, we illustrate how this new approach leads to a better understanding of QM.

SymmetryApr 12, 20214 citations

The geometrical meaning of spinors as a key to make sense of quantum mechanics

G. Coddens

This paper aims at explaining that the key to understanding quantum mechanics (QM) is a perfect geometrical understanding of the spinor algebra that is used in its formulation. Spinors occur naturally in the representation theory of certain symmetry groups. The spinors that are relevant for QM are those of the homogeneous Lorentz group SO(3,1) in Minkowski space-time R 4 and its subgroup SO(3) of the rotations of three-dimensional Euclidean space R 3. In the three-dimensional rotation group the spinors occur within its representation SU(2). We will provide the reader with a perfect intuitive insight about what is going on behind the scenes of the spinor algebra. We will then use the understanding acquired to derive the free-space Dirac equation from scratch proving that it is a description of a statistical ensemble of spinning electrons in uniform motion, completely in the spirit of Ballentine's statistical interpretation of QM. This is a mathematically rigorous proof. Developing this further we allow for the presence of an electromagnetic field. We can consider the result as a reconstruction of QM based on the geometrical understanding of the spinor algebra. By discussing a number of problems in the interpretation of the conventional approach, we illustrate how this new approach leads to a better understanding of QM.

Mar 22, 20211 citation

Free Particles/Antiparticles

P. Strange

As in non-relativistic quantum theory, the simplest problem to solve in relativistic quantum theory is that of describing a free particle. Much can be learned from this case which will be of use in interpreting the topics covered in later chapters. Furthermore, some of the most profound features of relativistic quantum theory are well illustrated by the free particle, so it is a very instructive problem to consider in detail. Another advantage of the free-particle problem is that the mathematics involved in solving it is not nearly as involved as that necessary for solving problems involving particles under the influence of potentials. Firstly we shall look briefly at the formulae for the current and probability density, then we shall go on to examine the solutions of the Dirac equation and investigate their behaviour. This leads us to a discussion of spin, the Pauli limit, and the relativistic spin operator. Next we consider the negative energy solutions and show how relativistic quantum theory predicts the existence of antiparticles. Some of the dilemmas this concept introduces and their resolution are discussed. At the end of the chapter we go back to the Klein paradox, and examine it for an incident spin-1/2 particle. We find that the Klein paradox exists for Dirac particles in exactly the same way as it existed for Klein—Gordon particles and has the same resolution and interpretation.

Cambridge University Press eBooksSep 17, 19980 citations

The Dirac Equation

Kenneth G. Dyall, Knut Fægri

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the Dirac equation, which will provide us with a basis for developing the relativistic quantum mechanics of electronic systems. Thus far we have reviewed some basic features of the classical relativistic theory, which is the foundation of relativistic quantum theory. As in the nonrelativistic case, quantum mechanical equations may be obtained from the classical relativistic particle equations by use of the correspondence principle, where we replace classical variables by operators. Of particular interest are the substitutions In terms of the momentum four-vector introduced earlier, this yields In going from a classical relativistic description to relativistic quantum mechanics, we require that the equations obtained are invariant under Lorentz transformations. Other basic requirements, such as gauge invariance, must also apply to the equations of relativistic quantum mechanics. We start this chapter by reexamining the quantization of the nonrelativistic Hamiltonian and draw out some features that will be useful in the quantization of the relativistic Hamiltonian. We then turn to the Dirac equation and sketch its derivation. We discuss some properties of the equation and its solutions, and show how going to the nonrelativistic limit reduces it to a Schrödinger-type equation containing spin.

Oxford University Press eBooksJul 5, 20070 citations

Star products and geometric algebra

Peter Henselder

Considering physics as it is done today one notices that physics separates into two formally and conceptually different parts. There is on the one hand classical physics that deals with macroscopic phenomena and there is on the other hand quantum physics that deals with microscopic phenomena. Penrose [96] described this situation as a disturbing analogy to ancient Greece, where two different sets of laws for earth and heaven were applied. So immediately the question arises if one really has to use different formalisms on different scales or if it is possible to describe physics in a unified way. In order to investigate this question one first has to consider how classical and quantum physics are related. Quantum mechanics results from classical physics by a procedure called quantization and classical physics is reobtained by taking the classical limit. Both procedures are heavily plagued by problems [61, 100]. In the first chapter the mathematical problems of quantization will be addressed and it will be described how the star product formalism circumvents these problems. The star product formalism has the advantage that there is no formal break if one goes from classical physics to quantum physics. This formal advantage and the resulting beauty is then used as a guiding principle for the further development. The first question that arises is if the spin can be described in the star product formalism. That this is indeed possible is shown in the second chapter. As a starting point the spin description with pseudoclassical mechanics as it was developed by Berezin is used. One can then construct a fermionic star product and apply it for deformation quantization of pseudoclassical mechanics. In analogy to the bosonic star product formalism one obtains spin Wigner functions that act as spin projectors. Besides the nonrelativistic case it is also possible to formulate Dirac theory with star products. The Clifford algebra of the gamma matrices is hereby described as a deformed version of a four dimensional Grassmann algebra. The fermionic star product in combination with the bosonic Moyal product leads to a supersymmetric star product formalism that can be used to describe supersymmetric quantum mechanics and in the relativistic case to describe the supersymmetric structure of Dirac theory. The other direction of generalization of the star product formalism is the application of star products in quantum field theory that is described in chapter three. After constructing a suitable normal product it is shown that the algebraic structures of perturbative quantum field theory appear also in the star product formalism, which is an expression of the algebra morphism of the operator and the star product formalism. But moreover the quantum group structure that was recently found in perturbative quantum field theory is shown to be a natural algebraic structure of the star product. The essential advantage of deformation quantization is that the classical limit has a well defined meaning. In the context of the spin description with star products this leads to the question of the classical limit of spin, or equivalently to the question of the physical status of pseudoclassical mechanics. In chapter four it is shown that this question is solved if one realizes that the fermionic sector together with the fermionic star product describe the underlying geometric structure. The deformation of a Grassmann algebra leads to a Clifford calculus that is equivalent to geometric algebra. The formulation of geometric algebra in the star product formalism is given in chapter four. One sees there that geometric algebra as the most fundamental geometric formalism that unifies all geometric structures that appear in physics can be described in a supersymmetric manner that parallels the bosonic star product structures. Having obtained a formulation of geometry with fermionic star products this formalism is then applied in the fifth chapter to physical problems. As examples for the application of geometric algebra in classical physics the rigid body and the Kepler problem are considered. In both cases the formalism of geometric algebra gives the most elegant formulation of the problem. In the quantum case one can then combine the fermionic star product formalism that describes the underlying geometric structure with the bosonic star product that describes the noncommuative structure of quantum mechanics. The result is a noncommutative version of geometric algebra that leads to a natural appearance of spin terms. The same idea applied on the phase space leads to the split in supersymmetric partner systems. Geometric algebra gives in this way a natural geometric foundation of supersymmetric quantum mechanics. Similarly one can interpret the hidden BRST-structure of classical mechanics that was found by E. Gozzi and M. Reuter in the path integral formalism from a star product point of view.

Dec 13, 20078 citations

Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

Jean-Pierre Antoine

The aim of relativistic quantum mechanics is to describe the finer details of the structure of atoms and molecules, where relativistic effects become nonnegligible. It is a sort of intermediate realm, between the familiar nonrelativistic quantum mechanics and fully relativistic quantum field theory, and thus it lacks the simplicity and elegance of both. Yet it is a necessary tool, mostly for quantum chemists. Pilkuhn's book offers to this audience an up-to-date survey of these methods, which is quite welcome since most previous textbooks are at least ten years old. The point of view of the author is to start immediately in the relativistic domain, following the lead of Maxwell's equations rather than classical mechanics, and thus to treat the nonrelativistic version as an approximation. Thus Chapter 1 takes off from Maxwell's equations (in the noncovariant Coulomb gauge) and gradually derives the basic aspects of Quantum Mechanics in a rather pedestrian way (states and observables, Hilbert space, operators, quantum measurement, scattering,. Chapter 2 starts with the Lorentz transformations, then continues with the Pauli spin equation and the Dirac equation and some of their applications (notably the hydrogen atom). Chapter 3 is entitled `Quantum fields and particles', but falls short of treating quantum field theory properly: only creation/annihilation operators are considered, for a particle in a box. The emphasis is on two-electron states (the Pauli principle, the Foldy--Wouthuysen elimination of small components of Dirac spinors, Breit projection operators. Chapter 4 is devoted to scattering theory and the description of relativistic bound states. Chapter 5, finally, covers hyperfine interactions and radiative corrections. As we said above, relativistic quantum mechanics is by nature limited in scope and rather inelegant and Pilkuhn's book is no exception. The notation is often heavy (mostly noncovariant) and the mathematical level rather low. The central topic is the description of atoms and molecules, including relativistic effects. The author fulfils this program in a reasonable way and offers a valuable tool to the targeted audience. I am not overly enthusiastic about the end result, but I might be prejudiced. Clearly, going further would require the full power of quantum field theory, but this is clearly beyond the scope of the book.

Journal of Physics A Mathematical and GeneralJan 9, 200414 citations