Dirac equation path integral: Interpreting the Grassmann variables

Summary A functional integral for a particle obeying the Dirac equation is presented. In earlier work (reviewed here) we showed that 1) such a particle could be described as a massless particle randomly flipping direction and helicity at a complex ratei/m and 2) its between-flips propagation could be written as a sum over paths for a Grassmann variable valued stochastic process. We here extend the earlier work by providing a geometrical interpretation of the Grassmann variables as forms onSU(2). With this interpretation we clarify the supersymmetric correspondence relating products of Grassmann variables to spatial coordinates. To speed up publication, the authors have agreed not to receive proofs which have been supervised by the Scientific Committee.     

A spin observable for a Dirac particle

We discuss the form of the spin operator in relativistic quantum mechanics. We derive the form of the spin operator in the case when the states with negative energies are admitted. It appears that for a Dirac particle the spin operator reduces to the so called mean-spin operator introduced by Foldy and Wouthuysen. We show that the spin operator transforms under Lorentz group action according to an operator Wigner rotation, analogously as a Bloch vector describing polarization of a particle in momentum representation.     

Integration method for the Dirac equation

An integration method for the Dirac equation is proposed. The method, based on diagonalization, reduces the problem to one of integration of independent second-order differential equations.     

Generalized relativistic Chapman-Enskog solution of the Boltzmann equation

The Chapman-Enskog method of solution of the relativistic Boltzmann equation is generalized in order to admit a time-derivative term associated to a thermodynamic force in its first order solution. Both existence and uniqueness of such a solution are proved based on the standard theory of integral equations. The mathematical implications of the generalization introduced here are thoroughly discussed regarding the nature of heat as chaotic energy transfer in the context of relativity theory.     

Bound states of the Dirac equation with position-dependent mass for the Eckart potential

Studying with the asymptotic iteration method, we present approximate solutions of the Dirac equation for the Eckart potential in the case of position-dependent mass. The centrifugal term is approximated by an exponential form, and the relativistic energy spectrum and the normalized eigenfunctions are obtained explicitly.     

Newtonian and fluid-dynamical viewpoint of pseudopotentials

A generalized time-dependent pseudopotential is defined. Analogue of the Newtonian equation is derived for stationary states and pseudoforces are physically interpreted. Physical points are also made from the analogous equation of continuity and the Euler equations. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Meson spectra with a power-law potential in the Dirac equation

A power law potential which is an equal admixture of scalar and vector parts with effective powerv ∞ 1/m _q , is proposed as a quark confining potential in the Dirac equation. The model is capable of predicting the meson spectroscopy encompassing both light and heavy quark-antiquark systems in a unified way.     

A global existence theorem for the nonlinear BGK equation

A global existence theorem with large initial data inL ¹ is given for the nonlinear BGK equation. The method, which is based on the recent averaging lemma of Golseet al., utilizes a weak compactness argument inL ¹.     

A remark on the Dirac equation

We give a simple deductive derivation of the Dirac equation for a free particle. Our construction provides a clear distinction between what are the physical contents and what are purely mathematical expedients in the formalism of quantum mechanics (QM).     

On complex singularities of the 2D Euler equation at short times

We present a study of complex singularities of a two-parameter family of solutions for the two-dimensional Euler equation with periodic boundary conditions and initial conditions in the short-time asymptotic régime. As has been shown numerically in Pauls et al. [W. Pauls, T. Matsumoto, U. Frisch, J. Bec, Nature of complex singularities for the 2D Euler equation, Physica D 219 (2006) 40-59], the type of the singularities depends on the angle ? between the modes p and q. Thus, the Fourier coefficients of the solutions decrease as with the exponent α depending on ?. Here we show for the two particular cases of ? going to zero and to π that the type of the singularities can be determined very accurately, being characterised by α=5/2 and α=3 respectively. In these two cases we are also able to determine the subdominant corrections. Furthermore, we find that the geometry of the singularities in these two cases is completely different, the singular manifold being located “over” different points in the real domain.     

在赝自旋对称性势场中运动的相对论粒子的束缚态

在赝自旋对称性条件下,分别求解了在Kratzer型、Hulthén型和Poschl-Teller型标量势与矢量势场中运动的相对论粒子的Klein-Gordon方程和Dirac方程,给出了它们的束缚态能谱和相对论性波函数.     

Quantum-classical correspondence of the Dirac equation with a scalar-like potential

Quantum matrix elements of the coordinate, momentum and the velocity operator for a spin-1/2 particle moving in a scalar-like potential are calculated. In the large quantum number limit, these matrix elements give classical quantities for a relativistic system with a position-dependent mass. Meanwhile, the Klein-Gordon equation for the spin-0 particle is discussed too. Though the Heisenberg equations for both the spin-0 and spin-1/2 particles are unlike the classical equations of motion, they go to the classical equations in the classical limit.      

Global existence in L1 for the Enskog equation and convergence of the solutions to solutions of the Boltzmann equation

For the Enskog equation in a box an existence theorem is proved for initial data with finite mass, energy, and entropy. Then, by letting the diameter of the molecules go to zero, the weak convergence of solutions of the Enskog equation to solutions of the Boltzmann equation is proved.     

Phase space density representations in fluid dynamics

Phase space density representations of inviscid fluid dynamics were recently discussed by Abarbanel and Rouhi. Here it is shown that such representations may be simply derived and interpreted by means of the Liouville equation corresponding to the dynamical system of ordinary differential equations that describes fluid particle trajectories. The Hamiltonian and Poisson bracket for the phase space density then emerge as immediate consequences of the corresponding structure of the dynamics. For barotropic fluids, this approach leads by direct construction to the formulation presented by Abarbanel and Rouhi. Extensions of this formulation to inhomogeneous incompressible fluids and to fluids in which the state equation involves an additional transported scalar variable are constructed by augmenting the single-particle dynamics and phase space to include the relevant additional variable.     

Manning-Rosen标量势与矢量势的Klein-Gordon方程和Dirac方程的束缚态

给出了具有Manning-Rosen型标量势与矢量势的Klein-Gordon方程和Dirac方程的束缚态解，其解可用超几何函数表示. 关键词： Manning-Rosen势 Klein-Gordon方程 Dirac方程 束缚态     

Intertwining technique for the one-dimensional stationary Dirac equation

The technique of differential intertwining operators (or Darboux transformation operators) is systematically applied to the one-dimensional Dirac equation. The following aspects are investigated: factorization of a polynomial of Dirac Hamiltonians, quadratic supersymmetry, closed extension of transformation operators, chains of transformations, and finally particular cases of pseudoscalar and scalar potentials. The method is widely illustrated by numerous examples.     

Global existence proof for relativistic Boltzmann equation

The existence and causality of solutions to the relativistic Boltzmann equation inL ¹ and inL _loc ¹ are proved. The solutions are shown to satisfy physically naturala priori bounds, time-independent inL ¹. The results rely upon new techniques developed for the nonrelativistic Boltzmann equation by DiPerna and Lions.     

Solution of the Dirac equation in plane wave metric backgrounds

We present a new solution of the Dirac equation in the background of a plane wave metric. We examine the relation between sections of the exterior and Clifford bundles of a (pseudo-)Riemannian manifold. A spinor calculus is established and used to investigate a new solution of the Dirac equation lying in a minimal left ideal characterized by a certain idempotent projector.