A relativistic basis of the quantum theory—III

Abstract

Although there are some changes in method and in some places in the notation in this paper, which make it differ somewhat from the two papers I and II recently published in these ‘Proceedings,’ the same principle and object underlie it, and we may regard it as paper III of the series. It is believed that the alterations made and the manner of introducing the quantum equations make the presentation in the present form more elegant and that the theory is more satisfactory as a unitary theory. The quantum equations are made to emerge from a rather simple conception of a matrix length, of which the square may be identified as the square of the length of the theory of relativity. We begin with a discussion of the geodesics in a five-dimensional continuum and make certain changes both in the constants and in the point of view regarding the nature of the path of the electron in this space. The effect is to remove a difficulty with regard to the Kaluza-Klein cylindrical type of space.