Tru Physics

Tag: The Dirac Equation

  • Lamb Shift

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    Introduction The Lamb Shift, named after physicist Willis Lamb, refers to a slight difference in energy between two levels of the electron in a hydrogen atom, specifically the and states. This phenomenon was not predicted by the Dirac equation but was later explained by developments in quantum electrodynamics (QED). The Dirac Equation and Its Limitations…

  • Klein Paradox

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    Introduction The Klein Paradox, proposed by Swedish physicist Oskar Klein, is a counterintuitive phenomenon in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, particularly in the context of relativistic quantum mechanics described by the Dirac equation. The paradox refers to the penetration of high-energy particles through high potential barriers, contrary to the predictions of non-relativistic quantum mechanics.…

  • Dirac Matrices

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    Introduction The Dirac matrices, or gamma matrices, are a set of matrices with specific anticommutation relations that play a key role in the Dirac equation, a relativistic quantum mechanical wave equation discovered by British physicist Paul Dirac. Definition of Dirac Matrices The Dirac matrices are defined in four-dimensional Minkowski space and are generally denoted as…

  • Dirac Sea

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    Introduction The Dirac Sea is a theoretical model of the vacuum as an infinite sea of particles with negative energy. It was first postulated by the British physicist Paul Dirac in 1930 to explain the behavior of electrons in relation to his relativistic quantum mechanical wave equation, known as the Dirac equation. The Dirac Equation…

  • Dirac Equation

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    Introduction The Dirac equation is a relativistic wave equation derived by British physicist Paul Dirac in 1928. It provides a description of elementary spin-1/2 particles, such as electrons, consistent with both quantum mechanics and the theory of special relativity. The Equation The Dirac equation in natural units () is written as: where is the wave…

  • Zitterbewegung

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    Zitterbewegung, a German term meaning “trembling motion,” is a theoretical concept in quantum mechanics that describes the rapid oscillatory motion of particles such as electrons. It was first proposed by Erwin Schrödinger in 1930 as a consequence of the relativistic Dirac equation, which describes the behavior of fermions (particles with half-integer spin) like electrons. Properties…