On quantum electrodynamics of two-particle bound states containing spinless particles

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Foundations of Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02313125· OSTI ID:7308509

Owen, D A ^[1]

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1. Ben Gurion Univ. of the Negev, Beer-Sheva (Israel)

The authors develop here the general treatment arising from the Bethe-Salpeter equation for a two-particle bound system in which at least one of the particles is spinless. It is shown that a natural two-component formalism can be formulated for describing the propagators of scalar particles. This leads to a formulation of the Bethe-Salpeter equation in a form very reminiscent of the fermion-fermion case. It is also shown, that using this two-component formulation for spinless particles, the perturbation theory can be systematically developed in a manner similar to that of fermions. Quantum electrodynamics for scalar particles is then developed in the two component formalism, and the problem of bound states, in which one of the constituent particles is spinless, is examined by means of the means of the Bethe-Salpeter equation. For this case, the Bethe-Salpeter equation is cast into a form which is convenient to perform a Foldy-Woutyhuysen transformation which is carried out, keeping the lowest-order relativistic corrections to the nonrelativistic equation. The results are compared with the corresponding fermion-fermion case. It is shown, as might have been expected, that the only spin-independent terms that occur for the fermion-fermion system which do not occur for bound scalar particle cases, is the zitterbewegung contribution. The relevance of the above consideration for systems that are essentially bound by electromagnetic interactions, such as kaonic hydrogen, is discussed. 14 refs.

• OSTI ID: 7308509
• Journal Information: Foundations of Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Foundations of Physics; (United States) Vol. 24:2; ISSN FNDPA4; ISSN 0015-9018
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

662220* -- Quantum Electrodynamics-- (1992-)
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
BETHE-SALPETER EQUATION
BOUND STATE
CANONICAL TRANSFORMATIONS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
EQUATIONS
FIELD THEORIES
FOLDY-WOUTHUYSEN TRANSFORM
MANY-BODY PROBLEM
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
SCALARS
TRANSFORMATIONS
TWO-BODY PROBLEM