Past exam of the short options paper shared by Prelims and Parts A and B of the physics course of the University of Oxford / 2018 / S18 / 3 / b

In two spatial dimensions there are only two kinetic matrices and one mass matrix. The three Pauli matrices square to identity and anticommute pairwise, sois a two-component Dirac Hamiltonian with $H_{2+1}^2=c^2(p_x^2+p_y^2)+m^2{c}^4$. It therefore reproduces the stated first-order equation and its Klein-Gordon square. Requiring a fourth anticommuting matrix in three spatial dimensions is precisely what prevented this two-component construction above.

Printed angular-momentum qualification. Define the dimensionless spin $s_i=-i{\epsilon }_{ijk}{\alpha }_j{\alpha }_k/4$ and the physical orbital angular momentum ${\ell }_i={\epsilon }_{ijk}{x}_j{p}_k$, with $[x_i,p_j]=i\hslash {\delta }_{ij}$. ThenThe source prints $L_i=i{\ell }_i$ instead. Taken literally, it is anti-Hermitian, has incompatible units with the dimensionless spin when they are added, and givesIt cannot yield the requested usual angular-momentum algebra or conservation law. For a concrete counterexample set $\hslash =1$ and take a wave with momentum along $z$. Sincethe printed $J_i=i{\ell }_i+s_i$ obeys $[H_D,J_x]=(1+i)c{\alpha }_y{p}_z\ne 0$.

The physically consistent operator is ${\mathbf{J}}_{\mathrm{phys}}=\mathbf{\ell }+\hslash \mathbf{s}$. It satisfiesThe cancellation follows directly from the two mixed commutators above. In a spherical basis the free spinor can be labelled by energy, $j=1/2,3/2,\dots$, and $m_j=-j,\dots ,j$, together with a parity or equivalent Dirac angular label distinguishing the two orbital couplings $\ell =j\pm 1/2$. Alternatively one can choose a momentum and helicity basis. One cannot simultaneously assign all components of momentum and all angular labels as independent commuting observables.