Majorana Fermions: Lagrangean and equations of motion

In summary, the given equations can be obtained from the given Lagrangian by taking partial derivatives and applying the charge conjugation property. The process is still being evaluated and further steps are needed to fully understand it.
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Homework Statement
Show that the equations (below) can be obtained from the followong lagrangian
Relevant Equations
.
$$i \gamma^{\mu} \partial_{\mu} \psi = m \psi_c \\
i \gamma^{\mu} \partial_{\mu} \psi_c = m \psi
$$

Where ##\psi_c = C \gamma^0 \psi^*##

Show that the above equations can be obtained from the followong lagrangian

$$
L = \overline{\psi} i \gamma^{\mu} \partial_{\mu} \psi - \frac{1}{2} m \left ( \psi^T C \psi + \overline{\psi} C \overline{\psi}^T \right )
$$

Where ##C## is charge conjugation

$$
\begin{align*}
L = \overline{\psi} i \gamma^{\mu} \partial_{\mu} \psi - \frac{1}{2} m \left ( \psi^T C \psi + \overline{\psi} C \overline{\psi}^T \right ) = \overline{\psi}_a i \gamma^{\mu} \partial_{\mu} \psi^a - \frac{1}{2} m \left ( \psi^a C_{ab} \psi^b + \overline{\psi}^a C_{ab} \overline{\psi}^b \right )
\end{align*}
$$

\begin{align*}
\frac{\partial L}{\partial \psi^r} = -\frac{1}{2} m \left ( C_{ra} \psi^a + \psi^a C_{ar} \right ) = - \frac{1}{2} m \left ( C_{ra} \psi^a - \psi^a C_{ra} \right )
\end{align*}

\begin{align*}
\frac{\partial L}{\partial \overline{\psi}^r} = i \gamma^{\mu} \partial_{\mu} \psi_r -\frac{1}{2} m \left ( C_{ra} \overline{\psi}^a + \overline{\psi}^a C_{ar} \right ) = i \gamma^{\mu} \partial_{\mu} \psi_r -\frac{1}{2} m \left ( C_{ra} \overline{\psi}^a - \overline{\psi}^a C_{ra} \right )
\end{align*}

\begin{align*}
\frac{\partial}{\partial x^{\mu}} \frac{\partial L}{\partial \partial_{\mu} \psi^r} = \frac{\partial}{\partial x^{\mu}} \left ( \overline{\psi_r} i \gamma^{\mu}\right) = \partial_{\mu} \overline{\psi}_r i \gamma^{\mu}
\end{align*}

\begin{align*}
\frac{\partial}{\partial x^{\mu}} \frac{\partial L}{\partial \partial_{\mu} \overline{\psi}^r} = 0
\end{align*}

\begin{align*}
-\frac{1}{2} m \left ( C_{ra} \psi^a - \psi^a C_{ra} \right ) - i \partial_{\mu} \overline{\psi_r} \gamma^{\mu} = 0 \\
i \gamma^{\mu} \partial_{\mu} \psi_r -\frac{1}{2} m \left ( C_{ra} \overline{\psi}^a - \overline{\psi}^a C_{ra} \right ) = 0
\end{align*}

But i am not sure how to proceed!
 
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Can someone give me a tip? I am still trying to evaluate it, but i can't found out what i have to do.
 

FAQ: Majorana Fermions: Lagrangean and equations of motion

What is a Majorana Fermion?

A Majorana fermion is a type of particle that is its own antiparticle, meaning that it does not have a distinct counterpart with opposite charge. This concept was proposed by the Italian physicist Ettore Majorana in 1937. Majorana fermions are of interest in various fields of physics, including particle physics and condensed matter physics, due to their unique properties and potential applications in quantum computing.

How is the Lagrangian for a Majorana fermion constructed?

The Lagrangian for a Majorana fermion is constructed similarly to that of a Dirac fermion but with specific modifications to ensure the field is real (i.e., the fermion is its own antiparticle). The Majorana Lagrangian is typically written as:

\[\mathcal{L} = \frac{1}{2} \bar{\psi} (i \gamma^\mu \partial_\mu - m) \psi\]where \(\psi\) is the Majorana spinor, \(\gamma^\mu\) are the gamma matrices, and \(m\) is the mass of the Majorana fermion. The factor of \(\frac{1}{2}\) is included to avoid double-counting degrees of freedom.

What are the equations of motion for a Majorana fermion?

The equations of motion for a Majorana fermion can be derived from the Lagrangian using the Euler-Lagrange equations. The resulting equation is the Majorana equation, which is a variant of the Dirac equation:

\[(i \gamma^\mu \partial_\mu - m) \psi = 0\]This equation describes the dynamics of the Majorana fermion field \(\psi\).

What are the physical implications of Majorana fermions being their own antiparticles?

Majorana fermions being their own antiparticles have several significant physical implications. One of the most notable is in the field of neutrino physics, where the discovery of Majorana neutrinos could help explain the small masses of neutrinos via the seesaw mechanism. Additionally, Majorana fermions are predicted to exhibit non-Abelian statistics, which makes them potential candidates for use in topological quantum computing, where they could provide robust qubits resistant to local perturbations.

How are Majorana fermions detected experimentally?

Detecting Majorana fermions experimentally is challenging due to their elusive nature. In condensed matter physics, one promising approach is to look for signatures of Majorana bound states at the edges of topological superconductors. These states can be identified through tunneling spectroscopy experiments, where a zero-bias conductance peak is considered a potential signature of Majorana fermions. In particle

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