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Questions and Answers
Who developed a relativistic quantum-mechanical description of the electron in the 1920s?
Paul Dirac
What did Dirac's theory require solutions for that posed a major problem?
negative energy states
What did Dirac postulate about negative energy states in his theory?
all negative energy states are filled
What are electrons occupying the negative energy states collectively called?
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Why are electrons in the Dirac sea not directly observable?
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Study Notes
Relativistic Quantum-Mechanical Description of the Electron
- Paul Dirac developed a relativistic quantum-mechanical description of the electron in the 1920s.
Dirac's Theory
- Dirac's theory required solutions for the wave equation that posed a major problem.
- The solutions involved negative energy states, which were problematic.
Negative Energy States
- Dirac postulated that negative energy states exist in his theory.
- These states are occupied by electrons that are collectively called the Dirac sea.
Dirac Sea
- Electrons in the Dirac sea are not directly observable because they are fully occupied and cancel out each other's properties.
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Description
Learn about Paul Dirac's development of a relativistic quantum-mechanical description of the electron and the existence of positrons and other antiparticles.
