Solving simple quaternionic differential equations

The renewed interest in investigating quaternionic quantum mechanics, in particular tunneling effects, and the recent results on quaternionic differential operators motivate the study of resolution methods for quaternionic differential equations. In this paper, by using the real matrix representation of left/right acting quaternionic operators, we prove existence and uniqueness for quaternionic initial value problems, discuss the reduction of order for quaternionic homogeneous differential equations and extend to the non-commutative case the method of variation of parameters. We also show that the standard Wronskian cannot uniquely be extended to the quaternionic case. Nevertheless, the absolute value of the complex Wronskian admits a non-commutative extension for quaternionic functions of one real variable. Linear dependence and independence of solutions of homogeneous (right) H-linear differential equations is then related to this new functional. Our discussion is, for simplicity, presented for quaternionic second order differential equations. This involves no loss of generality. Definitions and results can be readily extended to the n-order case.Comment: 9 pages, AMS-Te

Right eigenvalue equation in quaternionic quantum mechanics

We study the right eigenvalue equation for quaternionic and complex linear matrix operators defined in n-dimensional quaternionic vector spaces. For quaternionic linear operators the eigenvalue spectrum consists of n complex values. For these operators we give a necessary and sufficient condition for the diagonalization of their quaternionic matrix representations. Our discussion is also extended to complex linear operators, whose spectrum is characterized by 2n complex eigenvalues. We show that a consistent analysis of the eigenvalue problem for complex linear operators requires the choice of a complex geometry in defining inner products. Finally, we introduce some examples of the left eigenvalue equations and highlight the main difficulties in their solution.Comment: 24 pages, AMS-Te

REPLY TO HEP-PH/0211241 "On the extra factor of two in the phase of neutrino oscillations"

Arguments continue to appear in the literature concerning the validity of the standard oscillation formula. We point out some misunderstandings and try to explain in simple terms our viewpoint.Comment: 4 pages [1 colored LaTex-fig], AMS-Te

Wave packets and quantum oscillations

We give a detailed analysis of the oscillation formula within the context of the wave packet formalism. Particular attention is made to insure flavor eigenstate creation in the physical cases (Delta p not equal 0). This requirement imposes non instantaneous particle creation in all frames. It is shown that the standard formula is not only exact when the mass wave packets have the same velocity, but it is a good approximation when minimal slippage occurs. For more general situations the oscillation formula contains additional arbitrary parameters, which allows for the unknown form of the wave packet envelope.Comment: 15 pages [8 figs], AMS-Te

Quaternionic potentials in non-relativistic quantum mechanics

We discuss the Schrodinger equation in presence of quaternionic potentials. The study is performed analytically as long as it proves possible, when not, we resort to numerical calculations. The results obtained could be useful to investigate an underlying quaternionic quantum dynamics in particle physics. Experimental tests and proposals to observe quaternionic quantum effects by neutron interferometry are briefly reviewed.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures (ps), AMS-Te

The octonionic eigenvalue problem

By using a real matrix translation, we propose a coupled eigenvalue problem for octonionic operators. In view of possible applications in quantum mechanics, we also discuss the hermiticity of such operators. Previous difficulties in formulating a consistent octonionic Hilbert space are solved by using the new coupled eigenvalue problem and introducing an appropriate scalar product for the probability amplitudes.Comment: 21 page

Quaternionic Electroweak Theory and CKM Matrix

We find in our quaternionic version of the electroweak theory an apparently hopeless problem: In going from complex to quaternions, the calculation of the real-valued parameters of the CKM matrix drastically changes. We aim to explain this quaternionic puzzle.Comment: 8, Revtex, Int. J. Theor. Phys. (to be published

Graphene tests of Klein phenomena

Graphene is characterized by chiral electronic excitations. As such it provides a perfect testing ground for the production of Klein pairs (electron/holes). If confirmed, the standard results for barrier phenomena must be reconsidered with, as a byproduct, the accumulation within the barrier of holes.Comment: 8 page

Potential Scattering in Dirac Field Theory

We develop the potential scattering of a spinor within the context of perturbation field theory. As an application, we reproduce, up to second order in the potential, the diffusion results for a potential barrier of quantum mechanics. An immediate consequence is a simple generalization to arbitrary potential forms, a feature not possible in quantum mechanics.Comment: 7 page

Quaternionic eigenvalue problem

We discuss the (right) eigenvalue equation for $\mathbb{H}$, $\mathbb{C}$ and $\mathbb{R}$ linear quaternionic operators. The possibility to introduce an isomorphism between these operators and real/complex matrices allows to translate the quaternionic problem into an {\em equivalent} real or complex counterpart. Interesting applications are found in solving differential equations within quaternionic formulations of quantum mechanics.Comment: 13 pages, AMS-Te