Remarks on the Relativistic Kepler Problem
Abstract
By means of a new representation, the Dirac-Coulomb spherical wave functions are treated in a manner which brings out the close formal similarity between these solutions and the spherical wave solutions for the free-electron problem. The radial functions in the new representation have the same form as the non-relativistic radial Coulomb functions, but with an irrational orbital "angular momentum," l(γ). This representation is utilized to deduce a general recursion relation for radial Coulomb eigenfunctions, and show the existence of the Coulomb helicity operator as a constant of the motion. The advantages and properties of this formulation are discussed briefly.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review
- Pub Date:
- April 1962
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRev.126.845
- Bibcode:
- 1962PhRv..126..845B