Inadequacy of the Usual Galilean Transformation in Quantum Mechanics

Daniel M. Greenberger
Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 100405 – Published 21 August 2001
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Abstract

We show that the superselection rule in the Galilean transformation, forbidding the superposition of states of different mass, in inconsistent with the nonrelativistic limit of the Lorentz transformation. We also point out that the extra Galilean phase is merely the residue of the “twin-paradox” effect, which does not vanish nonrelativistically. In general, there are phase effects due to proper time differences, and effects due to mass-energy equivalence, that do not vanish nonrelativistically but that are not handled adequately by the Galilean transformation.

  • Received 17 January 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.100405

©2001 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Daniel M. Greenberger

  • City College of New York, New York, New York 10031

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Issue

Vol. 87, Iss. 10 — 3 September 2001

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