Mimicking Negative Mass Properties

TL;DR

This paper explores how negative mass properties can be simulated using positive mass particles in quantum systems and wave phenomena, revealing potential for mimicking negative mass behavior in physical models.

Contribution

It demonstrates that negative mass effects can be emulated through specific conditions in Dirac systems and wave dispersion relations, offering new insights into negative mass phenomena.

Findings

Negative mass behavior can be mimicked by changing charge sign in Dirac systems.

Negative refractive index can emerge from positive mass particles with imaginary wavenumber.

Negative mass properties can be simulated without actual negative mass particles.

Abstract

In the present work, one analyzes two systems trying to obtain physical conditions where some properties attributed to negative mass can be mimicked by positive mass particles. The first one is the well-known 1/2-spin system described by the Dirac equation in the presence of an external electromagnetic field. Assuming some physical restrictions, one obtains that the use of $e\rightarrow-e$ can lead to the same results as using $m\rightarrow-m$. In particular, for a null dielectric function, it is possible to obtain a negative mass behavior from a positive mass system composed of negatively charged particles. The second system is based on the de Broglie matter wave. The dispersion relation of such a wave can be negative (real or imaginary valued) if one assumes an imaginary wavenumber. The consequence is the emergence of a negative refractive index for positive mass particles. However, this behavior is generally attributed to a negative mass system.