For Dirac equation, operator-invariants containing explicit time-dependence in parallel to known time-dependent invariants of nonrelativistic Schrödinger equation are introduced and discussed. As an example, a free Dirac particle is considered and new invariants are constructed for it. The integral of motion, which is initial Newton-Wigner position operator, is obtained explicitly for a free Dirac particle. For such particle with kick modeled by delta-function of time, the time-depending integral, which has physical meaning of initial momentum, is found.
An extension of the Weyl-Wigner-Moyal formulation of quantum mechanics suitable for a Dirac quantized constrained system is proposed. In this formulation, quantum observables are described by equivalent classes of Weyl symbols. The Weyl product of these equivalent classes is defined. The new Moyal bracket is shown to be compatible with the Dirac bracket for constrained systems.
Drawing inspiration from Dirac's work on functions of non commuting observables, we develop a fresh approach to phase space descriptions of operators and the Wigner distribution in quantum mechanics. The construction presented here is marked by its economy, naturalness and more importantly, by its potential for extensions and generalisations to situations where the underlying configuration space is non Cartesian.
A relativistic spin operator is to be the difference between the total and orbital angular momentum. As the unique position operator for a localized state, the remarkable Newton-Wigner position operator, which has all desirable commutation relations as a position operator, can give a proper spin operator. Historically important three spin operators respectively proposed by Bogolubov et al., Pryce, and Foldy-Woutheysen are investigated to manifest a corresponding spin operator to the Newton-Wigner position operator. We clarify a unique spin operator in relativistic quantum mechanics described b…
Many of the "counterintuitive" features of relativistic quantum field theory have their formal root in the Reeh-Schlieder theorem, which in particular entails that local operations applied to the vacuum state can produce any state of the entire field. It is of great interest, then, that I.E. Segal and, more recently, G. Fleming (in a paper entitled "Reeh-Schlieder Meets Newton-Wigner") have proposed an alternative "Newton-Wigner" localization scheme that avoids the Reeh-Schlieder theorem. In this paper, I reconstruct the Newton-Wigner localization scheme and clarify the limited extent to which…
In every state of a quantum particle, Wigner's quasidistribution is the unique quasidistribution on the phase space with the correct marginal distributions for position, momentum, and all their linear combinations.
The derivation becomes possible when we find a new formalism which connects the relativistic mechanics with the quantum mechanics. In this paper, we explore the quantum wave nature from the Newtonian mechanics by using a concept: velocity field. At first, we rewrite the relativistic Newton's second law as a field equation in terms of the velocity field, which directly reveals a new relationship connecting to the quantum mechanics. Next, we show that the Dirac equation can be derived from the field equation in a rigorous and consistent manner.
A relativistic Wigner function for free Discrete Time Quantum Walks (DTQWs) on the square $2D$ space-time lattice is defined. Useful concepts such as discrete derivatives and discrete distributions are also introduced. The transport equation obeyed by the relativistic Wigner function is obtained and degenerates at the continuous limit into the transport equation obeyed by the Wigner function of $2D$ Dirac fermions. The first corrections to the continuous equation induced by the discreteness of the lattice are also computed.
We study the Dirac equation with slowly varying external potentials. Using matrix-valued Wigner functions we prove that the electron follows with high precision the classical orbit and that the spin precesses according to the BMT equation with gyromagnetic ratio g=2.
For the special case of freely evolving Dirac electrons in $1 + 1$ dimensions, Feynman checkerboard paths have previously been used to derive Wigner's arrival-time distribution which includes all arrivals. Here, an attempt is made to use these paths to determine the corresponding distribution of first-arrival times. Simple analytic expressions are obtained for the relevant components of the first-arrival propagator. These are used to investigate the relative importance of the first-arrival contribution to the Wigner arrival-time distribution and of the contribution arising from interference be…
We derive a quantum kinetic model describing the dynamics of graphene electrons in phase space based on the Wigner--Weyl formalism. To take into account the quantum nature of the carriers, we make use of the quantum Liouville equation for the density matrix. By relating the density matrix elements with the Wigner function, the equation of motion for the latter is established, with the Coulomb interaction being introduced self-consistently (i.e., in the Hartree approximation). The long-wavelength limit for the plasmon dispersion relation is obtained, for both ungated and gated situations. As an…
In this paper we show that the Schrödinger-Newton equation for spherically symmetric gravitational fields can be derived in a WKB-like expansion in 1/c from the Einstein-Klein-Gordon and Einstein-Dirac system.
In nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, Hudsons theorem states that a Gaussian wavefunction is the only pure state corresponding to a positive Wigner function (WF). We explicitly construct non Gaussian Dirac spinors with positive relativistic WF. These pure states are coherent superpositions of particles and antiparticles, while the existence of positive WF exclusive composed of particles is conjectured. These observations challenge a common belief that states with positive WF are classical or have classical analogues, and may open new venues in relativistic quantum information.
When Einstein formulated his special relativity in 1905, he established the law of Lorentz transformations for point particles. It is now known that particles have internal space-time structures. Particles, such as photons and electrons, have spin variables. Protons and other hadrons are regarded as bound states of more fundamental particles called quarks which have their internal variables. It is still one of the most outstanding problems whether these internal space-time variables are transformed according to Einstein's law of Lorentz transformations. It is noted that Wigner, Dirac, and Feyn…
The relativistic phase-space representation by means of the usual position and momentum operators for a class of observables with Weyl symbols independent of charge variable (i.e. with any combination of position and momentum) is proposed. The dynamical equation coincides with its analogue in the non-local theory (generalization of the Newton-Wigner position operator approach) under conditions when particles creation is impossible. Differences reveal themselves in specific constraints on possible initial conditions.
The significance of the de Broglie-Bohm hidden-particle position in the relativistic regime is addressed, seeking connection to the (orthodox) single-particle Newton-Wigner position. The effect of non-positive excursions of the ensemble density for extreme cases of positive-energy waves is easily computed using an integral of the equations of motion developed here for free spin-0 particles in 1+1 dimensions and is interpreted in terms of virtual-like pair creation and annihilation beneath the Compton wavelength. A Bohmtheoretic description of the acausal explosion of a specific Newton-Wigner-l…
We challenge the widespread belief, originated by Newton and Wigner (Rev. Mod. Phys, 21, 400 (1949)) that the incorporation of special relativity into quantum mechanics implies that a massive particle cannot be localized within an arbitrarily small spatial extent, that there is a minimum width approximately equal to the Compton wavelength. Our argument is in four parts. First, the scalar function used by Newton and Wigner as a measure of localization is not a position probability amplitude. The correct relativistic position probability amplitude becomes a delta function for a state vector loca…
Nonadiabatic quantum kinetic equations and Dirac-Heisenberg-Wigner formalism for Schwinger pair production in time-varying electric fields with multiple components
School of Science, China University of Mining and Technology（中国矿业大学理学院）；State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology（中国矿业大学隧道工程国家重点实验室）
Study of spin states in vacuum pair production via the Dirac-Heisenberg-Wigner formalism
State Key Laboratory for Tunnel Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology（中国矿业大学隧道工程国家重点实验室）；School of Science, China University of Mining and Technology（中国矿业大学理学院）
We set up Wigner distributions for $N$ state quantum systems following a Dirac inspired approach. In contrast to much of the work on this case, requiring a $2N\times 2N$ phase space, particularly when $N$ is even, our approach is uniformly based on an $N\times N $ phase space grid and thereby avoids the necessity of having to invoke a `quadrupled' phase space and hence the attendant redundance. Both $N$ odd and even cases are analysed in detail and it is found that there are striking differences between the two. While the $N$ odd case permits full implementation of the marginals property, the …
The relativistic Wigner function for spin 1/2 particles is the subject of active research due to diverse applications. However, further progress is hindered by the fabulous complexity of the integro-differential equations of motion. We simplify these equations to partial differential equations of the Dirac type that are not only well suited for numerical computation, but also posses a well defined classical limit in a manifestly covariant form.
A complete solution to the problem of setting up Wigner distribution for N-level quantum systems is presented. The scheme makes use of some of the ideas introduced by Dirac in the course of defining functions of noncommuting observables and works uniformly for all N. Further, the construction developed here has the virtue of being essentially input-free in that it merely requires finding a square root of a certain N^2 x N^2 complex symmetric matrix, a task which, as is shown, can always be accomplished analytically. As an illustration, the case of a single qubit is considered in some detail an…
A semiclassical Foldy--Wouthuysen transformation of the Dirac equation is used to obtain the radiationless Bloch equation for the polarisation density.
We calculate the tunneling process of a Dirac particle across two square barriers separated a distance $d$, as well as the scattering by a double cusp barrier where the centers of the cusps are separated a distance larger than their screening lengths. Using the scattering matrix formalism, we obtain the transmission and reflection amplitudes for the scattering processes of both configurations. We show that, the presence of transmission resonances modifies the Lorentizian shape of the energy resonances and induces the appearance of additional maxima in the transmission coefficient in the range …
Paul A. M. Dirac was a great physicist. Wigner used to call him ``my famous brother-in-law''. How did they become brothers-in-law? Did these two great physicists have the same view toward physics?
It is shown that the hypercomplex Dirac equation describes the system of connected fields: 4-scalar, 4-pseudoscalar, 4-vector, 4-pseudo-vector and antisymmetric 4-tensor second rank field. If mass is assumed to be zero this system splits into two subsystems. Equations containing tensor, scalar and pseudoscalar fields coincide with Maxwell equations complemented by scalar and pseudoscalar fields. This system describes the electrodynamics of non-conserved charges. The scalar and pseudoscalar fields are generated only by the non-conserved charges - electric and hypothetical magnetic. The influenc…
Reporting about the Wigner formalism for describing Dirac spinor structures through a covariant phase-space formulation, the quantum information quantifiers for purity and mutual information involving spin-parity (discrete) and position-momentum (continuous) degrees of freedom are consistently obtained. For Dirac spinor Wigner operators decomposed into Poincaré classes of $SU(2) \otimes SU(2)$ spinor couplings, a definitive expression for quantum purity is identified in a twofold way: firstly, in terms of phase-space positively defined quantities, and secondly, in terms of the {\em spin-parity…
The scope of this paper is twofold. First, we derive rigorously a low-velocity and Galilei-covariant limit of the gravitoelectromagnetic (GEM) equations. Subsequently, these reduced GEM equations are coupled to the Schrödinger equation with gravitoelectric and gravitomagnetic potentials. The resulting extended Schrödinger-Newton equations constitute a minimal model where the three fundamental constants of nature ($G$, $\hbar$, and $c$) appear naturally. We show that the relativistic correction coming from the gravitomagnetic potential scales as the ratio of the mass of the system to the Planck…
We find all spin operators for a Dirac particle satisfying the following very general conditions: (i) spin does not convert positive (negative) energy states into negative (positive) energy states, (ii) spin is a pseudo-vector, and (iii) eigenvalues of the projection of a spin operator on an arbitrary direction are independent of this direction (isotropy condition). We show that there are four such operators and all of them fulfill the standard su(2) Lie algebra commutation relations. Nevertheless, only one of them has a proper non-relativistic limit and acts in the same way on negative and po…
Using Dirac equation together with the Wigner distribution function,the trembling motion,known as Zitterbewegung effect,of moving electrons in quasi-one-dimensional relativistic quantum plasma is theoretically investigated.The relativistic Wigner matrix is used to calculate the mean values of the position and velocity operators for a Dirac gas of electrons.It is found that the oscillatory behavior of measurable quantities could be associated with the Zitterbewegung effect which manifests itself as a damping interference pattern stemming from mixing the positive and negative dispersion modes of…
It is known that exp[i\lamda(Q_1P_1-i/2)] is a unitary single-mode squeezing operator, where Q_1,P_1 are the coordinate and momentum operators, respectively. In this paper we employ Dirac's coordinate representation to prove that the exponential operator S_{n}=Exp[i\lamda sum_{i=1}^{n}](Q_{i}P_{i+1}+Q_{i+1}P_{i}))], (Q_{n+1}=Q_1P_{n+1}=P_1), is a n-mode squeezing operator which enhances the standard squeezing. By virtue of the technique of integration within an ordered product of operators we derive S_{n}'s normally ordered expansion and obtain new n-mode squeezed vacuum states, its Wigner fun…
This thesis deals with the systematic treatment of quantum-mechanical systems in post-Newtonian gravitational fields. Starting from clearly spelled-out assumptions, employing a framework of geometric background structures defining the notion of a post-Newtonian expansion, our systematic approach allows to properly derive the post-Newtonian coupling of quantum-mechanical systems to gravity based on first principles. This sets it apart from more heuristic approaches that are commonly employed, for example, in the description of quantum-optical experiments under gravity. Regarding single particle…
We derive the Schrödinger-Newton equation as the non-relativistic limit of the Einstein-Dirac equations. Our analysis relaxes the assumption of spherical symmetry, made in earlier work in the literature, while deriving this limit. Since the spin of the Dirac field couples naturally to torsion, we generalize our analysis to the Einstein Cartan-Dirac (ECD) equations, again recovering the Schrödinger-Newton equation.
We investigate whether the Newton-Wigner position probability density, extended from spinless particles to electrons/positrons and particles of higher spin, can be incorporated as the zero component of a four-component probability current density that transforms locally as a four-vector function of the spacetime coordinates. We find that this is not possible, in all cases.
The problem of simulating through quantum walks Dirac fermions in arbitrary curved space-times and coordinates is revisited, taking (1 + 1)D space-times as an example. A new shift or translation operator on the grid is introduced, to take into account arbitrary geometries. The new, generalised quantum walks built with this operator can simulate Dirac fermions in arbitrary curved space-times and coordinates, and their wave functions have exactly the same number of components as standard Dirac spinors, and not twice that number, as previously believed. In particular, in $(1 + 1)$D space-times, o…
In the present work, we give a phenomenological theory of the monolayer graphene where two worlds quantum and classical meet together and complete each other in the most natural way. It appears that the graphene is the unique material where this complementarity could be explained in an effective way due to its exceptional band structure properties. We introduce the electron mass-vortex representation and we define surface tension excitation states in the monolayer graphene. By abstracting from the usual band energy dispersion we calculate the band mass of the electrons at the Dirac point by in…
This work investigates in which form quantities with Planck dimensions occur already in the common quantum theory with local Lorentz symmetry. Since such Planck quantities as Planck length or Planck mass involve the Planck constant h, the velocity of light c and the Newton gravitational constant G, the relativistic Dirac equation (h, c) in the Newtonian gravitational potential (G) can be considered as a test theory. The evaluation of the break-off condition of the power series of the radial energy eigenfunctions of a purely gravitational atom leads to exact terms for the energy eigenvalues E f…
We proceed to derive equations for the symmetric tensor of the second rank on the basis of the Bargmann-Wigner formalism in a straightforward way. The symmetric multispinor of the fourth rank is used. It is constructed out of the Dirac 4-spinors. Due to serious problems with the interpretation of the results obtained on using the standard procedure we generalize it and obtain the spin-2 relativistic equations, which are consistent with the previous one. The importance of the 4-vector field (and its gauge part) is pointed out.
We study time evolution of Wigner function of an initially interacting one-dimensional quantum gas following the switch-off of the interactions. For the scenario where at $t=0$ the interactions are suddenly suppressed, we derive a relationship between the dynamical Wigner function and its initial value. A two-particle system initially interacting through two different interactions of Dirac delta type is examined. For a system of particles that is suddenly let to move ballistically (without interactions) in a harmonic trap in d dimensions, and using time evolution of one-body density matrix, we…
In the present article we show that the energy spectrum of the one-dimensional Dirac equation, in the presence of an attractive vectorial delta potential, exhibits a resonant behavior when one includes an asymptotically spatially vanishing weak electric field associated with a hyperbolic tangent potential. We solve the Dirac equation in terms of Gauss hyper-geometric functions and show explicitly how the resonant behavior depends on the strength of the electric field evaluated at the support of the point interaction. We derive an approximate expression for the value of the resonances and compa…
We derive an equivalent traveling wave form description for Dirac field. In the non-relativistic limit, such form can reduce to inverse-Galilean transformed Schrodinger-type equation. We find that, the resulting two-component Schrodinger-type equation from the reduction of traveling wave form description of Dirac field is different to the naive Galilean transformed Schrodinger equation. Taking into account the interactions of the system to electromagnetic field by adding proper forms of covariant derivative, the traveling wave form description for Pauli equation can be similarly obtained in th…
The Dirac monopole string is specified for de Sitter cosmological model. Dirac equation for spin 1/2 particle in presence of this monopole has been examined on the background of de Sitter space-time in static coordinates. Instead of spinor monopole harmonics, the technique of Wigner D-functions is used. After separation of the variables, detailed analysis of the radial equations is performed; four types of solutions, singular, regular, in- and out- running waves, are constructed in terms of hypergeometric functions. The complete set of spinor wave solutions Ψ_{ε, j,m, λ}(t,r, θ, ϕ) has been co…
We consider time delay for the Dirac equation. A new method to calculate the asymptotics of the expectation values of the operator $\int\limits_{0} ^{\infty}e^{iH_{0}t}ζ\left( \frac{\left\vert x\right\vert }{R}\right) e^{-iH_{0}t}dt,$ as $R\rightarrow\infty,$ is presented. Here $H_{0}$ is the free Dirac operator and $ζ\left( t\right) $ is such that $ζ\left( t\right) =1$ for $0\leq t\leq1$ and $ζ\left( t\right) =0$ for $t>1.$ This approach allows us to obtain the time delay operator $δ\mathcal{T}\left( f\right) $ for initial states $f$ in $\mathcal{H} _{2}^{3/2+\varepsilon}\left( \mathbb{R}^{3}…
