Textbook treatments of the Galilean covariance of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for a spinless particle seem invariably to cover the case of a free particle or one in the presence of a scalar potential. The principal objective of this paper is to examine the situation in the case of arbitrary forces, including the velocity-dependent variety resulting from a vector potential. To this end, we revisit the 1964 theorem of Jauch which purports to determine the most general form of the Hamiltonian consistent with “Galilean-invariance,” and argue that the proof is less than compelling. We then show systematically that the Schrödinger equation in the case of a Jauch-type Hamiltonian is Galilean covariant, so long as the vector and scalar potentials transform in a certain way. These transformations, which to our knowledge have appeared very rarely in the literature on quantum mechanics, correspond in the case of electrodynamical forces to the “magnetic” nonrelativistic limit of Maxwell’s equations in the sense of Le Bellac and Lévy-Leblond (1973). Finally, this Galilean covariant theory sheds light on Feynman’s “proof” of Maxwell’s equations, as reported by Dyson in 1990.
A nonrelativistic model is investigated that is a certain generalization of quantum mechanics of two particles interacting with a potential. A new point interaction of the particles is introduced, which involves their transition into another particle that has the same quantum numbers as the bound state of the first particles. In the theory thus developed, the mass of the introduced particle and its interaction constant are arbitrary. In the particular case when the mass of the introduced particle is chosen so that its mass exactly equals that of the bound state of the first particles, the theory is identical with ordinary quantum mechanics. The renormalization constants in this case vanish. (auth)
Motivated by the difficulties which persist in the construction of a consistent description of interacting relativistic particles with spin greater than 1, we examine the analogous problem within the framework of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics and find that all of the difficulties vanish in the (Galilei-invariant) limit. It is found that a unique, first-order, Galilei-covariant wave equation describing massive, spin-
s particles follows from general invariance assumptions and a minimality condition on the number of components of the wave function. The minimal theory has
6s+1 components (
2s+1 of which are independent) and admits a consistent quantum-mechanical interpretation. An external electromagnetic field interaction is introduced via the minimal-coupling replacement, and, in contrast with the relativistic case, a consistent theory emerges for arbitrary spin. The Galilean spin-
s particles so described are found to possess only an electric charge and a magnetic dipole with a
g factor of
s1. The Galilei-invariant addition of arbitrary moment terms is also described. The extension of the formalism to second-quantized spin-
s fields is discussed, and it is found that in that case, too, the difficulties are peculiar to the relativistic case. Reasons for the simplicity of the Galilei case are presented. Finally, for the sake of completeness, the first-order form of the Schr\"odinger theory is presented, as well as examples of theories which violate the minimality condition.
Spin degrees of freedom of the Galilean covariant Dirac field in
(4+1) dimensions and its nonrelativistic counterpart in
(3+1) dimensions are examined. Two standard choices of spin operator, the Galilean covariant and Dirac spin operators, are considered. It is shown that the Dirac spin of the Galilean covariant Dirac field in
(4+1) dimensions is not conserved, and the role of non-Galilean boosts in its nonconservation is stressed out. After reduction to
(3+1) dimensions the Dirac field turns into a nonrelativistic Fermi field with a conserved Dirac spin. A generalized form of the L\'evy-Leblond equations for the Fermi field is given. One-particle spin states are constructed. A particle-antiparticle system is discussed.