How do you prove the relationship involving the Dirac Hamiltonian and matrices?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on proving the relationship involving the Dirac Hamiltonian and matrices, specifically showing that α₅ψ(x) = -Eψ(x) given H_Dψ(x) = Eψ(x). Participants express uncertainty about how to manipulate the gamma matrices and represent the state ψ(x) as a column vector. There is a suggestion to express ψ in terms of two column vectors, ξ and χ, to facilitate the proof. Questions arise regarding whether the proof should be conducted for a specific basis of the gamma matrices or in general. The conversation highlights the complexities of working with Dirac matrices in quantum mechanics.
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Homework Statement


Matrices
##\alpha_k=\gamma^0 \gamma^k##, ##\beta=\gamma^0## and ##\alpha_5=\alpha_1\alpha_2\alpha_3 \beta##. If we know that for Dirac Hamiltonian
H_D\psi(x)=E \psi(x)
then show that
\alpha_5 \psi(x)=-E \psi(x)

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I tried to multiply Gamma matrices from wikipedia link, but I am not sure how to work with that od the state ##\psi(x)##? How to write that as column vector? I am not sure what to do here?
 
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From which book is this problem? Should it be proved for a specific basis for the gamma matrices or in general? You can e.g. write the four vector in the form ##\psi=\begin{pmatrix}\xi \\ \chi \end{pmatrix}##, where ##\xi## and ##\chi## are column vectors (containing to two elements).
 
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