Higher order variational origin of the Dixon’s
system and its relation to the quasi-classical ‘Zitterbewegung’ in
general relativity.
(English) Zbl 1222.70019
Summary: We show how the Dixon’s system of
first order equations of motion for the particle with inner dipole
structure together with the side Mathisson constraint follows from
rather general construction of the ’Hamilton system’ developed by
Weyssenhoff, Rund and Grässer to describe the phase space
counterpart of the evolution under the ordinary Euler – Poisson
differential equation of the parameter-invariant variational
problem with second derivatives. One concrete expression of the
’Hamilton function’ leads to the General Relativistic form of the
fourth order equation of motion known to describe the
quasi-classical ’quiver’ particle in Special Relativity. The
corresponding Lagrange function including velocity and
acceleration coincides in the flat space of Special Relativity
with the one considered by Bopp in an attempt to give an
approximate variational formulation of the motion of
self-radiating electron, when expressed in terms of geometric
quantities.