Dirac Equation: Gamma Matrices as 4-Vector Components?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter vijaychitgopka
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Dirac Dirac equation
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 2K views
vijaychitgopka
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
While studying the Dirac Equation, we come across the gamma matrices. Can we consider these matrices as the components
of a 4-vector ?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
This is the defining condition for the Dirac matrices. It is not derived, because it is a definition. It is required to allow the factorisation of the Klein Gordon equation in the derivation of the Dirac equation.
 
While studying the Dirac Equation, we come across the gamma matrices. Can we consider these matrices as the components of a 4-vector ?
No, the Dirac matrices are the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients that couple the product of two Dirac spinors to form a 4-vector. The result ψγμψ is a 4-vector.