259 research outputs found
Only in the standard representation the Dirac theory is a quantum theory of a single fermion
It is shown that the relativistic quantum mechanics of a single fermion can
be developed only on the basis of the standard representation of the Dirac
bispinor. As in the nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, the arbitrariness in
defining the bispinor, as a four-component wave function, is restricted by its
multiplication by an arbitrary phase factor. We reveal the role of the large
and small components of the bispinor, establish their link in the
nonrelativistic limit with the Pauli spinor, as well as explain the role of
states with negative energies. The Klein tunneling is treated here as a
physical phenomenon analogous to the propagation of the electromagnetic wave in
a medium with negative dielectric permittivity and permeability. For the case
of localized stationary states we define the effective one-particle operators
which act in the space of the large component but contain the contributions of
both components. The effective operator of energy is presented in a compact
analytical form.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, thoroughly rewritte
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