paper

On the Majorana representation of the optical Dirac equation

arXiv:2212.04011 · doi:10.1088/1751-8121/acb182

Abstract

We consider the representations of the optical Dirac equation, especially ones where the Hamiltonian is purely real-valued. This is equivalent, for Maxwell's equations, to the Majorana representation of the massless Dirac (Weyl) equation. We draw analogies between the Dirac, chiral and Majorana representations of the Dirac and optical Dirac equations, and derive two new optical Majorana representations. Just as the Dirac and chiral representations are related to optical spin and helicity states, these Majorana representations of the optical Dirac equation are associated with the linear polarisation of light. This provides a means to compare electron and electromagnetic wave equations in the context of classical field theory.

17 pages. For special issue of J Phys A in honour of Michael Berry

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