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Journal of Modern Physics

Natural Extension of the Schrödinger Equation to Quasi-Relativistic Speeds

Luis Grave de Peralta

Published Jan 1, 2020• 16 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A Schrödinger-like equation for a single free quantum particle is presented. It is argued that this equation can be considered a natural relativistic extension of the Schrödinger equation for energies smaller than the energy associated to the particle’s mass. Some basic properties of this equation: Galilean invariance, probability density, and relation to the Klein-Gordon equation are discussed. The scholastic value of the proposed Grave de Peralta equation is illustrated by finding precise quasi-relativistic solutions for the infinite rectangular well and the quantum rotor problems. Consequences of the non-linearity of the proposed equation for the quantum superposition principle are discussed.

DOI
10.4236/jmp.2020.112012

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A Schrödinger-like equation for a single free quantum particle is presented. It is argued that this equation can be considered a natural relativistic extension of the Schrödinger equation for energies smaller than the energy associated to the particle’s mass. Some basic properties of this equation: Galilean invariance, probability density, and relation to the Klein-Gordon equation are discussed. The scholastic value of the proposed Grave de Peralta equation is illustrated by finding precise quasi-relativistic solutions for the infinite rectangular well and the quantum rotor problems. Consequences of the non-linearity of the proposed equation for the quantum superposition principle are discussed.
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.
We propose a nonlinear modification of the Schrödinger equation that possesses the main properties of this equation such as the Galilean invariance, the weak separability of composite systems, and the homogeneity in the wave function. The modification is derived from the relativistic relation between the energy and momentum of free particle and, as such, it is the best relativistic extension of the Schrödinger equation that preserves the properties in question. The only change it effectively entails in the Schrödinger equation involves the conserved probability current. It is pointed out that it partially retains the linear superposition principle and that it can be used to model the process of decoherence.
Abstract Wave mechanics triumphed when Schrödinger published his now famous equation and showed how to describe hydrogen-like atoms using it. However, while looking for the right equation, Schrödinger first explored, but did not publish, the equation that we today call the Klein–Gordon equation. An alternative possible choice is explored in this work. It is shown a quasi-relativistic wave equation which solutions match the Schrödinger’s results at electron energies much smaller than the energy associated to the electron’s mass, but include, at higher energies, the relativity energy’s correction calculated in traditional first order perturbation theory. A discussion is presented about several consequences that would follow from using this quasi-relativistic wave equation as a quantum mechanics foundational equation. It is also suggested the academic use of this equation for introducing the students to the implications of the special theory of relativity in introductory quantum mechanics courses.
This chapter introduces the concepts of the relativistic theory to basic problems of quantum physics, in particular, the extension of the Schrodinger equation to a relativistic form. Starting from the fundamental laws of relativity, the chapter evaluates the Klein–Gordon equation and investigates if the equation can be considered a generalization of the non-relativistic Schrodinger equation to the case of the relativistic energy. The chapter shows that the wave function, which is a solution to the Klein–Gordon equation, cannot be connected with the probability wave function. For this reason, the Dirac equation is used to solve the problems faced by the Klein–Gordon equation. The Dirac equation also includes the spin. The advantage of the Dirac equation over the Schrodinger and Klein–Gordon equations is that it naturally includes the spin. In the Schrodinger and Klein–Gordon equations, the spin is not present and has to be added to the wave function manually whenever the wave function determines a system with the spin.
Using a novel quasi-relativistic wave equation, which can give precise results up to energies ~mc2, exact quantum mechanical solutions are found which corresponds to a particle with mass moving through one-dimensional piecewise constant potentials. As expected, at low particle’s speeds, the found solutions coincide with the solutions of the same problems calculated using the Schrödinger equation; however, as it should be, both solutions have a significative difference at quasi-relativistic speeds. Then, it is argued that the quasi-relativistic wave equation provides a simpler description than a fully relativistic theory or the perturbation approach for a quantum particle moving at quasi-relativistic energies through piecewise constant potentials.