Confused about going from relativistic to non-relativistic Hamilonian

In summary, the conversation discusses the transformation from Eq. 32 to Eq. 33 in a paper, where the Hamiltonian is represented by the gamma matrices and the electron and quark/nucleon fields. In the non-relativistic limit, the Hamiltonian becomes proportional to the nuclear density, represented by the term ##\rho(r)##, and acts only in the electronic sector. The confusion arises regarding the absence of the electronic ##\gamma_\mu## term and the interpretation of the nuclear density term.
  • #1
Malamala
299
27
Hello! My question is related to going from Eq. 32 to Eq. 33 in this paper (however I have seen this in other papers, too). In summary, starting with:

$$H \propto \bar{e}\gamma_\mu\gamma_5 e \bar{q}\gamma^\mu q$$
where we have the gamma matrices, e is the electron field and q is the quark/nucleon field, if we assume the nucleus is non-relativistic we end up with:

$$H \propto \gamma_5\rho(r)$$
where ##\rho(r)## is the nuclear density and this is a Hamiltonian acting in the electronic sector.

My confusions are:
1. Where did the electronic ##\gamma_\mu## go?
2. (More important) I am not sure I understand the ##\rho(r)## term. Is r referring to the nuclear or electronic position? If it is nuclear, I am confused as, given we integrated out the nuclear part, the nuclear term should be a constant, no? If it refers to electron, I am not sure how to think of the nuclear density as a function of electron coordinates and how does it even end up being a function of the electronic coordiates?

I would really appreciate some help with this. Thank you!
 
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  • #2
##\rho=j^{0}=\bar{q}\gamma^0 q=q^{\dagger} q##. In the non-relativistic limit, the dominating term is indeed the Coulomb-like interaction.
 

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