Zitterbewegung of a Free Localized Dirac Particle

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-1979

Publication Title

American Journal of Physics

Abstract

Much of the lore of the Zitterbewegung of a free Dirac particle is found to need revision for the situation when the particle is initially localized. We find that in this case the rapid violent oscillations of angular frequency ∠2mc2/h□ in the average position of the particle are a transient rather than sustained phenomenon. Instead, the Zitterbewegung is manifested by a growth in the size of the particle but this growth is many orders of magnitude smaller than h□/mc, the magnitude usually quoted. This behavior is contrasted with that of the Foldy-Wouthuysen position for which the Zitterbewegung is absent. Finally, the applicability of these ideas to the situation of a localized Dirac particle in an external field is commented on.

Original Citation

Lock, James A. "Zitterbewegung of a Free Localized Dirac Particle." American Journal of Physics 47 (1979): 797-802.

DOI

10.1119/1.11697

Volume

47

Issue

9

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