Relativistic wave equations

Before the creation of quantum field theory, physicists attempted to formulate versions of the Schrödinger equation which were compatible with special relativity. Such equations are called relativistic wave equations.

The first such equation was discovered by Erwin Schrödinger himself; however, he realized that this equation, now called the Klein-Gordon equation, gave incorrect results when used to calculate the energy levels of hydrogen. Schrödinger discarded his relativistic wave equation, only to realize a few months later that its non-relativistic limit (what is now called the Schrödinger equation) was still of importance.

List of relativistic wave equations

The following list of relativistic wave equations is categorised by the spin of the particles they describe.

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* Klein-Gordon equation: describes a massless or massive spin-0 particle (such as Higgs bosons)
::$left(Box^2\; +\; left(frac\{mc\}\{hbar\}\; ight)^2\; ight)\; psi\; =\; 0$

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* Weyl equation: describes massless spin-1/2 particles
* Dirac equation: describes massive spin-1/2 particles (such as electrons)::$left(\; i\; hbar\; gamma^mu\; partial\_mu\; -\; m\; c\; ight)\; psi\; =\; 0$
* Majorana equation: describes a massive Majorana particle
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* Breit equation: describes two massive spin-1/2 particles (such as electrons) interacting electromagnetically to first order in perturbation theory

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* Maxwell equations: describe a photon (massless spin-1 particle)
* Proca equation: describes a massive spin-1 particle (such as W and Z bosons)
::$partial\_mu(partial^mu\; A^\; u\; -\; partial^\; u\; A^mu)+left(frac\{mc\}\{hbar\}\; ight)^2\; A^\; u=0$

Gauge fields

* Yang-Mills equation: describes a non-abelian gauge field
* Yang-Mills-Higgs equation: describes a non-abelian gauge field coupled with a massive spin-0 particle
* Kemmer equation: an alternative equation for spin-1 particles

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* Rarita-Schwinger equation: describes a massive spin-3/2 particle
::$epsilon^\{mu\; u\; ho\; sigma\}\; gamma^5\; gamma\_\; u\; partial\_\; ho\; psi\_sigma\; +\; mpsi^mu\; =\; 0$

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* Einstein field equations: describe interaction of matter with the gravitational field (massless spin-2 field).
::$R\_\{ab\}\; -\; \{1\; over\; 2\}R\; g\_\{ab\}\; =\; -\{8\; pi\}\; T\_\{ab\}+\; Lambda\; g\_\{ab\}.$

Arbitrary spin

* Bargmann-Wigner equations: describe free particles of arbitrary integral or half-integral spin

All the particle equations except the Breit, the Yang-Mills, Yang-Mills-Higgs and Einstein are
linear.

ee also

* Special relativity
* Status of special relativity
* Lorentz transformations
* Quantum Field Theory
* Scalar field theory