Generalized maxwell equations and quantum mechanics. I. Dirac equation for the free electron

Abstract

Some preliminary results presented in two previous papers are expanded upon. In the first it was shown that the Maxwell equations are equivalent to a nonlinear Dirac-like spinor equation. In the present paper it is shown that, in that formalism, the Dirac equation for the free electron is susceptible to a puzzling reinterpretation. In fact, it is shown that the Dirac equation is equivalent to the Maxwell equations for an electromagnetic field generated by two currents: one electric in nature and one, magnetic-monopolar. The elaboration of this result brings a nonlinear generalization of Maxwell's equations, as well as a nonlinear Dirac-like equation fully equivalent to them, from which both the electron mass as well as the magnetic monopole mass appear to be fully electromagnetic in nature, and the magnetic monopole to be tachyonic. The corresponding nonlinear Dirac equation reduces, under suitable approximations, to the ordinary Dirac equation for the free electron.