English

Localization and Causality for a free particle

Quantum Physics 2009-11-07 v2

Abstract

Theorems (most notably by Hegerfeldt) prove that an initially localized particle whose time evolution is determined by a positive Hamiltonian will violate causality. We argue that this apparent paradox is resolved for a free particle described by either the Dirac equation or the Klein-Gordon equation because such a particle cannot be localized in the sense required by the theorems.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0111060,
  title  = {Localization and Causality for a free particle},
  author = {N. Barat and J. C. Kimball},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0111060},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

9 pages,no figures,new section added