Show that the Klein–Gordon equation for a free particle is invariant under the Lorentz transformation. The Lorentz transformation is given by ( 20.1 ) x ′ = γ ( x − β c t ) , y ′ = y , z ′ = z , c t ′ = γ ( c t − β x ) , https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429092053/5e12ab0e-ba42-4caa-9bdf-6325e9117d3e/content/eqn20_1.tif"/>
To obtain a Lorentz invariant Schrödinger equation, we considered the square root of the Klein–Gordon equation. This had the disadvantage that the Hamiltonian https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> H = p → 2 + m 2 https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429073601/03ca065d-1bf0-4218-811d-2f95276252a3/content/equ_603.tif" xmlns:xlink=" https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink "/> contains an infinite number of powers of https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> p → 2 / m 2 https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429073601/03ca065d-1bf0-4218-811d-2f95276252a3/content/equ_604.tif" xmlns:xlink=" https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink "/> , the parameter in which the square root should be expanded. It would have been better to treat space and time on a more equal footing in the Schrödinger equation. This is what Dirac took as his starting point. As the Schrödinger equation is linear in https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> p 0 = i ∂ / ∂ t https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429073601/03ca065d-1bf0-4218-811d-2f95276252a3/content/equ_605.tif" xmlns:xlink=" https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink "/> , one is looking for a Hamiltonian that is linear in the momenta https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> p j = i ∂ / ∂ x j ( = − p j ) https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429073601/03ca065d-1bf0-4218-811d-2f95276252a3/content/equ_606.tif" xmlns:xlink=" https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink "/> ). ( 12.1 ) https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> i ∂ Ψ ∂ t = H Ψ = − i α k ∂ Ψ ∂ x k + β m Ψ . https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429073601/03ca065d-1bf0-4218-811d-2f95276252a3/content/equ_607.tif" xmlns:xlink=" https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink "/>
We re-examine the square of the Hamiltonian, https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> Η https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781003273073/d236e21f-f9f6-4e42-b186-ef1c50f0a68b/content/math16_1.tif" xmlns:xlink=" https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink "/> , in Equation 15.7 and also the Dirac approach in finding the relativistic Hamiltonian. The classical Hamiltonian for the free particle should be the positive square root of Equation 15.7 which is not a linear function of the momenta. Applying this to the problem, say for example in Equation 15.10, we have the resultant wave equation that is asymmetrical with respect to space and time derivatives and so the necessity to linearize the equation in the momentum operators. So for Equation 15.10, it is impossible to include the Pauli spin matrices without destroying the invariance of the theory since the spin matrices transform the components of a three-dimensional rather than a four-dimensional vector. In addition, the function, https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> Ψ https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781003273073/d236e21f-f9f6-4e42-b186-ef1c50f0a68b/content/math16_2.tif" xmlns:xlink=" https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink "/> , has one component rather than two components like spinors and so the Schrödinger relativistic equation represents a particle with no spin. So for a potential to be added in Equation 15.10, the Lorentz-transformation properties of such an addition should be guaranteed by matrix algebra which is the requirement for the Hamiltonian https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> Η ^ https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781003273073/d236e21f-f9f6-4e42-b186-ef1c50f0a68b/content/math16_3.tif" xmlns:xlink=" https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink "/> to be linear in the momentum operators and guarantees relativistic invariance. This matrix algebra which permits the linearization of the Hamiltonian in the momentum operator was introduced by Dirac with the help of the Pauli matrices.
Before examining the Dirac equation that gives a relativistic quantum mechanical description of the electron, we will examine the Klein-Gordon equation. Compared to the Schrödinger equation, the Dirac equation should have an appreciable modification in the quantum description of the properties of the electron. In the non-relativistic quantum mechanical formulation, we begin with the classical relation for the energy in the absence of interaction, i.e., the kinetic energy: 15.1 https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> Η = p 2 2 m https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781003273073/d236e21f-f9f6-4e42-b186-ef1c50f0a68b/content/math15_1.tif" xmlns:xlink=" https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink "/>
We look for a Hamiltonian to use in the time-dependent Schrödinger equation, and because this is first order in time we stay first order in space trying to treat all coordinates on a similar basis. Write 4.1 https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> i ∂ ψ ∂ t = H ψ = − i α i ∂ ψ ∂ x i + m β ψ i = 1 , 2 , 3 https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429184550/8ac61231-bcf3-4e9e-a16f-9d6f78005bbb/content/math4_1_B.tif" xmlns:xlink=" https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink "/> where ψ is now a column and the α i and β are square matrices.
Let  , A ^ , B ^ , C ^ https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429092053/5e12ab0e-ba42-4caa-9bdf-6325e9117d3e/content/ineqn10_1.tif"/> Ĉ be arbitrary linear operators. Prove that [ A ^ B ^ , C ^ ] = [ A ^ , C ^ ] B ^ + A ^ [ B ^ , C ^ ] , https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429092053/5e12ab0e-ba42-4caa-9bdf-6325e9117d3e/content/ineqn10_2.tif"/> [ A ^ , [ B ^ , C ^ ] ] + [ B ^ , [ C ^ , A ^ ] ] + [ C ^ , [ A ^ , B ^ ] ] = 0. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429092053/5e12ab0e-ba42-4caa-9bdf-6325e9117d3e/content/ineqn10_3.tif"/>
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.