Is the Inner Product for Dirac Spinors Antisymmetric?

In summary, the task is to prove that \psi (\gamma^a\phi)=-(\gamma^a\phi)\psi using the given equations and properties of the gamma matrices, where a can only refer to spatial indices. The attempt involves using the hermitian conjugate and considering the possibility of a being equal to 0.
  • #1
LAHLH
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Homework Statement


Show that [tex] \psi (\gamma^a\phi)=-(\gamma^a\phi)\psi [/tex]

Homework Equations



Maybe [tex] \{\gamma^a, \gamma^b\}=\gamma^a\gamma^b+\gamma^b\gamma^a=2\eta^{ab}I [/tex]

Perhaps also:

[tex] (\gamma^0)^{\dag}=\gamma^0 [/tex] and [tex] (\gamma^i)^{\dag}=-(\gamma^i) [/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution


The gammas are matrices so I guess we start with

[tex] \psi_{\mu}[(\gamma^a)^{\mu\nu}\phi_{\nu}] [/tex]
[tex] =\psi_{\mu}[(((\gamma^a)^*)^{\dag})^{\nu\mu}\phi_{\nu}] [/tex]
[tex] =-[(((\gamma^a)^*))^{\nu\mu}\psi_{\mu}]\phi_{\nu} [/tex]

Which looks almost correct except the *, and also I'm not sure if I was supposed to assume that a can only refer to spatial indices, not the 0 which is equal to its hermitian conj, not minus it.

Thanks for any help
 
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FAQ: Is the Inner Product for Dirac Spinors Antisymmetric?

What is an inner product for Dirac spinors?

An inner product for Dirac spinors is a mathematical operation that takes two spinor fields as inputs and produces a single complex number as an output. It is used to measure the similarity or difference between two spinor fields.

How is the inner product defined for Dirac spinors?

The inner product for Dirac spinors is defined as the integral of the complex conjugate of one spinor field multiplied by the other spinor field, over all space. This can be written as ⟨ψ1 | ψ2 = ∫all space ψ1*(&vec;r) ψ2(&vec;r) d3r, where the asterisk denotes complex conjugation.

3. What is the significance of the inner product for Dirac spinors?

The inner product for Dirac spinors is important because it allows us to define a notion of orthogonality and completeness for these spinor fields. It also plays a crucial role in the formulation of quantum field theory and the prediction of physical observables.

4. How do we calculate the inner product for specific spinor fields?

To calculate the inner product for specific spinor fields, we first need to express them in terms of their components, which are functions of space and time. Then, we can plug these expressions into the definition of the inner product and integrate over all space to obtain a numerical value.

5. Can the inner product for Dirac spinors be used for any type of spinor field?

Yes, the inner product for Dirac spinors can be used for any type of spinor field, as long as it satisfies the Dirac equation and other necessary conditions. This includes spinor fields that describe fermions such as electrons, quarks, and neutrinos.

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