Paper detail

A Flow Equation Approach Striving Towards an Energy-Separating Hamiltonian Unitary Equivalent to the Dirac Hamiltonian with Coupling to Electromagnetic Fields

The Dirac Hamiltonian $H^{\left(D\right)}$ for relativistic charged fermions minimally coupled to (possibly time-dependent) electromagnetic fields is transformed with a purpose-built flow equation method, so that the result of that transformation is unitary equivalent to $H^{\left(D\right)}$ and granted to strive towards a limiting value $H^{\left(NW\right)}$ commuting with the Dirac $β$-matrix. Upon expansion of $H^{\left(NW\right)}$ to order $\frac{v^2}{c^2}$ the nonrelativistic Hamiltonian $H^{\left(SP\right)}$ of Schrödinger-Pauli quantum mechanics emerges as the leading order term adding to the rest energy $mc^2$. All the relativistic corrections to $H^{\left(SP\right)}$ are explicitly taken into account in the guise of a Magnus type series expansion, the series coefficients generated to order $\left(\frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}}\right)^{n}$ for $n\geq2$ comprising partial sums of iterated commutators only. In the special case of static fields the equivalence of the flow equation method with the well known energy-separating unitary transformation of Eriksen is established on the basis of an exact solution of a reverse flow equation transforming the $β$-matrix into the energy-sign operator associated with $H^{\left(D\right)}$. That way the identity $H^{\left(NW\right)}=β\sqrt{H^{\left(NW\right)}H^{\left(NW\right)}}$ is established implying $H^{\left(NW\right)}$ being determined unambiguously.

preprint2022arXivOpen access

Signal facts

What is known right now

Open access2 authors3 topics

Next steps

Decide what to do with this paper

Use like or dislike for the fast social read. The more specific scholarly feedback stays available below when needed.

Log in to curate

Reading frame

Keep the important context close to the paper

Keep the important signals around this paper in one place: votes, save state, collection context, reviews and the metadata you need before deciding what to do next.

Institutions

Add specific reaction

Move through the context

Research map

Open full explorer

Move through nearby people, institutions, topics and adjacent work without leaving the paper page.

Building this map preview

BZPEER is loading the nearby papers, people, topics and institutions for this page.

Structured reviews

0 review(s)

ContributeLeave structured feedbackUse the review template when you have a concrete strength, concern or method question.Open review form

No structured reviews yet. High-signal critique starts here.

Work discussion

0 comment(s)

DiscussAdd a high-signal commentKeep quick notes, caveats and replication pointers separate from formal reviews.Open comment form

No discussion yet. The first strong comment sets the tone.