Paul Dirac 1902-1984

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Paul Dirac 1902-1984

Relativistic bit!!!!!
by Graham Cox
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Biography

• Born and educated in Bristol
• Went to university at Cambridge
• Was Professor of maths at Cambridge and Professor
  of physics at Florida State University
• Died 1984

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Famous for

• Being the creator of the complete theoretical
  formulation of quantum mechanics
• Formulated relativistic theory of an electron
• Fermi-Dirac equation
• Predicting existence of antiparticles
• Brought relativity into quantum equations

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Nobel Prize

• For the discovery of new productive forms of
  atomic theory
• Shared with Erwin Schrodinger

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Dirac equation

• Electrons in atoms are small, and they move fast
  enough for the new quantum mechanics to be
  slightly inaccurate
• The equation involved spin of electrons
• Led to the prediction of antiparticles,
  especially the positron

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• h is h-bar
• c is the speed of light
• is the wave function
• m is the mass of the particle
• are the Dirac matrices

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Then

• Tried to explain charge
• Combined electricity with magnetism
• This was astounding at the time
• Predicted existence of positron
• Came from Dirac equations four components

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Historical context

• Brought relativity into quantum mechanics
• Allowed further work to be explored by other
  scientists e.g. positron

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Relevance today

• Equation still used in quantum mechanics
• Allowed particle physics to develop to current
  state