What Are the Values of Matrices β, αk, pk in the Dirac Equation?

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    Dirac Dirac equation
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SUMMARY

The Dirac equation utilizes the matrices β and αk, which are 4x4 Hermitian matrices defined by the Clifford algebra. These matrices satisfy specific anticommutation relations, including {α^i, α^j} = 2δ^{ij} and {α^i, β} = 0, with β^2 = 1. The momentum operator pk is not a matrix but a quantum operator represented as a spatial derivative. The eigenfunctions Ψ(x,t) are bispinors that can be solved in various representations, including Dirac, Chiral, and Majorana, leading to normalized eigenfunctions for both positive and negative energy eigenvalues.

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Hello there I have a problem about Dirac equation
36725c97374cea9194a5e035be2c2b60.png

So I want to know what is matrices β,αk,pk value. And is it right that with Dirac equation we can calculate every particle spin and how we take dervitative of Ψ(x,t) and what is Ψ(x,t) value.
 
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The matrices ##\beta##, ##\alpha_k## are 4x4 Hermitian matrices and are defined by the Clifford algebra, which means that in this notation they satisfy ( {,} is the anticommutator and 1 is the unity matrix):

##\{\alpha^i,\alpha^j\} = 2 \delta^{ij}##
##\{\alpha^i,\beta\} = 0##
##\beta^2 = 1##

Their explicit matrix elements depend on which of these you want to make diagonal (Dirac representation, Chiral representation, Majorana representation...). The ##p^k## is not a matrix but the momentum operator which becomes a quantum operator in the form of a spatial derivative: so the one you posted is the free Dirac equation in which ##\psi## is the eigenfuction unknown, a bispinor (4 component spinor). Solving for ##\psi## in the Dirac representation you find (after a lengthy calculation) the normalized eigenfunctions for positive and negative energy eigenvalues. And then you can change representations using the appropriate transformation matrices.
 
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