Dirac fermions in strong gravitational fields

Yuri N. Obukhov, Alexander J. Silenko, and Oleg V. Teryaev
Phys. Rev. D 84, 024025 – Published 14 July 2011

Abstract

We discuss the dynamics of the Dirac fermions in the general strong gravitational and electromagnetic fields. We derive the general Hermitian Dirac Hamiltonian and transform it to the Foldy-Wouthuysen representation for the spatially isotropic metric. The quantum operator equations of motion are obtained and the semiclassical limit is analyzed. The comparison of the quantum mechanical and classical equations shows their complete agreement. The helicity dynamics in strong fields is discussed. Squaring the covariant Dirac equation explicitly shows a similarity of the interactions of electromagnetic and gravitational fields with a charged and spinning particle.

  • Received 1 June 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.84.024025

© 2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Yuri N. Obukhov*

  • Department of Mathematics and Institute of Origins, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom

Alexander J. Silenko

  • Research Institute of Nuclear Problems, Belarusian State University, Minsk 220080, Belarus

Oleg V. Teryaev

  • Bogoliubov Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna 141980, Russia

  • *obukhov@math.ucl.ac.uk
  • silenko@inp.bsu.by
  • teryaev@theor.jinr.ru

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Issue

Vol. 84, Iss. 2 — 15 July 2011

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