Can Particles Described by Dirac and Klein-Gordon Equations Exist Independently?

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In summary, the solutions to the Dirac equation are also solutions to the Klein-Gordon equation, but they are not scalars due to the inclusion of energy and momentum in their coefficients. These particles, which have neither zero spin nor half spin, can exist independently under normal or extreme conditions. However, their values may differ when viewed from different inertial frames, as they are only invariant under space-time translations.
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Anamitra
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The component solutions of the Dirac equation are also solutions of the Klein-Gordon equation.
But these solutions are not scalars since the coefficients contain quantities like energy and momentum[the phase part is of course an invariant]
These are neither zero spin nor half spin particles[we are treating them as solutions of the K-G equation]. Is it possible for such particles to exist independently, in the normal or in extreme conditions?
 
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Anamitra said:
The component solutions of the Dirac equation are also solutions of the Klein-Gordon equation.

True.

Anamitra said:
But these solutions are not scalars since the coefficients contain quantities like energy and momentum[the phase part is of course an invariant]

No, the solutions of either Dirac's equation or KG's equation are invariant if described from an inertial reference system which is not rotated, nor boosted, but only space-time displaced. In other words, the solutions of these equations are invariant wrt to the subgroup of space-time translations, the only difference separating the equations and their solutions comes from the behavior under (restricted) Lorentz transformations.
 
  • #3
The solutions to the Dirac equation are invariant in form but not in value.One may consider the solution for a Dirac particle at rest in some inertial frame and the corresponding solution in some frame wrt which it is in motion. In certain types of standard treatment we start from the Dirac solution for a particle at rest and then move on to the more general type by some suitable boost to other inertial frames[where the particle is not at rest].

[As an illustration/argument I might say that the quantity [tex]{Et}{-}{p}{.}{x}[/tex] does not change in value when we move from one inertial frame to another. The scalar nature of the dot product conforms to such invariance of value]
 
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Related to Can Particles Described by Dirac and Klein-Gordon Equations Exist Independently?

1. What is the Dirac equation and why is it important?

The Dirac equation is a relativistic wave equation that describes the behavior of spin-1/2 particles, such as electrons, in quantum mechanics. It is important because it successfully combined quantum mechanics and special relativity, paving the way for the development of quantum field theory and providing a deeper understanding of the fundamental nature of matter.

2. Who was Paul Dirac and what was his contribution to physics?

Paul Dirac was a British physicist who is known for his contributions to quantum mechanics and quantum electrodynamics. He is most famous for the development of the Dirac equation, as well as his prediction of the existence of antimatter.

3. What is the K-G equation and how does it relate to the Dirac equation?

The Klein-Gordon (K-G) equation is another relativistic wave equation that describes the behavior of particles with integer spin, such as photons. It is related to the Dirac equation in that it can be derived from the Dirac equation in the limit of zero mass.

4. What are the solutions to the Dirac and K-G equations?

The solutions to these equations are wave functions that describe the probability amplitudes of the particles described by the equations. In the case of the Dirac equation, these solutions are four-component spinors, while in the case of the K-G equation, they are complex scalar fields.

5. What are some applications of the Dirac and K-G solutions?

The Dirac and K-G solutions have been used in a wide range of applications in modern physics, including theoretical models of particle physics, quantum field theory, and condensed matter physics. They have also been used to study the behavior of particles in extreme environments, such as black holes and the early universe.

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