Help to rewrite Dirac equation

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    Dirac Dirac equation
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the rewriting of the Dirac equation, specifically focusing on the transition to a Schrödinger-like form and the implications of certain terms, such as the magnetic field B and the mass term. The scope includes theoretical exploration and mathematical reasoning related to quantum mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a rewritten form of the Dirac equation and questions the emergence of the magnetic field B in the new equation.
  • Another participant suggests using a specific identity involving the Pauli matrices to understand the transformation of terms.
  • A third participant notes that the equation being discussed is actually the Pauli equation, which is a non-relativistic limit of the Dirac equation, omitting antiparticles.
  • One participant reiterates the use of the identity involving Pauli matrices and questions the absence of the mass term in the rewritten equation, suggesting it should be included.
  • Another participant responds that the mass term can be treated as a constant potential that can be absorbed into a phase factor, thus not appearing explicitly in the equation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the treatment of the mass term and the nature of the equation being discussed, indicating that there is no consensus on these points. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of these transformations.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the treatment of the mass term and the implications of the identity used in the transformation of the equations. The discussion does not clarify the conditions under which these transformations hold.

TimeRip496
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$$i\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial t} = \frac{1}{2m} (\sigma .P)(\sigma .P)\phi + eφ\phi$$

Rewriting the equation by using B = ∇ × A and e = −|e| (electron charge) leads to a Schr¨odinger like equation:
$$i\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial t} =[ \frac{1}{2m} (-i∇ + |e|A)^2 + \frac{|e|}{2m} σ.B - |e|φ ]\phi$$

How did the B suddenly appear in the second equation? Alll help will be greatly appreciated.
Source: http://physics.sharif.edu/~qmech/puppel.pdf ,Page 21.
 
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use the identity...(\vec{\sigma}\cdot\vec{a})(\vec{\sigma}\cdot\vec{b}) = \vec{a}\cdot\vec{b}+i(\vec{a}\times\vec{b})\cdot\vec{\sigma}
 
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Also note that this is not the Dirac but the Pauli equation, which can be derived as the 0th order non-relativistic expansion of the Dirac equation (throwing away the antiparticles in the process).
 
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Dr Transport said:
use the identity...(\vec{\sigma}\cdot\vec{a})(\vec{\sigma}\cdot\vec{b}) = \vec{a}\cdot\vec{b}+i(\vec{a}\times\vec{b})\cdot\vec{\sigma}
Thanks! One last question is why the author lose the mass in this equation, $$i\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial t} = \frac{1}{2m} (\sigma .P)(\sigma .P)\phi + eφ\phi$$

Shouldnt it be like this $$i\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial t} = \frac{1}{2m} (\sigma .P)(\sigma .P)\phi + m\phi + eφ\phi$$?
 
The mass term is just a constant potential, which you can absorb in an overall phase factor ##\exp(-\mathrm{i} m t)##, which cancels the term on the left- and right-hand side of your equation.
 
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