The Dirac Electron: Spin, Zitterbewegung, the Compton Wavelength, and the Kinetic Foundation of Rest Mass

Abstract

The Dirac equation, which was derived by combining, in a consistent manner, the relativistic invariance condition with the quantum superposition principle, has shown its fecundity by explaining the electron spin, predicting antimatter, and enabling Schrödinger’s trembling motion (Zitterbewegung). It has also yielded as expectation value for the electron speed the velocity of light. But the question has hardly been raised as to the effect of this intrinsic motion on the electron mass. In this chapter, we conjecture that the internal structure of the electron should consist of a massless charge describing, at light velocity, a vibrating motion in a domain defined by the Compton wavelength, the measured rest mass being generated by this very internal motion.