A transfer operator approach to relativistic quantum wavefunction *

Abstract

Abstract The original intent of the Koopman–von Neumann formalism was to put classical and quantum mechanics on the same footing by introducing an operator formalism into classical mechanics. Here we pursue their path the opposite way and examine what transfer operators can say about quantum mechanical evolution. To that end, we introduce a physically motivated scalar wavefunction formalism for a velocity field on a 4-dimensional pseudo-Riemannian manifold, and obtain an evolution equation for the associated wavefunction, a generator for an associated weighted transfer operator. The generator of the scalar evolution is of first order in space and time. The probability interpretation of the formalism leads to recovery of the Schrödinger equation in the non-relativistic limit. In the special relativity limit, we show that the scalar wavefunction of Dirac spinors satisfies the new equation. A connection with string theoretic considerations for mass is provided.