Equations · equation
Dirac Equation
Particle Physics · 1928
- Equation
- (iγ^μ·∂_μ − m)ψ = 0
- Field
- Particle Physics
- Named After
- Paul Dirac
- Symbols
- ψ the electron's four-component field · γ^μ the Dirac matrices · ∂_μ spacetime derivatives · m electron mass · units where ℏ = c = 1
- Year
- 1928
Significance
Quantum mechanics made compatible with special relativity — and the equation demanded more than it was asked for: electron spin fell out automatically, and its negative-energy solutions predicted antimatter four years before the positron was found.
Referenced by
constant
element
equation
theory
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