A possibility of Klein paradox in quaternionic (3 + 1) frame

Abstract

In light of the significance of non-commutative quaternionic algebra in modern physics, this study proposes the existence of the Klein paradox in the quaternionic (3+1)-dimensional space-time structure. By introducing quaternionic wave function, we rewrite the Klein–Gordon equation in extended quaternionic form that includes scalar and the vector fields. Because quaternionic fields are non-commutative, the quaternionic Klein–Gordon equation provides three separate sets of the probability density and probability current density of relativistic particles. We explore the significance of these probability densities by determining the reflection and transmission coefficients for the quaternionic relativistic step potential. Furthermore, we also discuss the quaternionic version of the oscillatory, tunnelling, and Klein zones for the quaternionic step potential. The Klein paradox occurs only in the Klein zone when the impacted particle’s kinetic energy is less than [Formula: see text]. Therefore, it is emphasized that for the quaternionic Klein paradox, the quaternionic reflection coefficient becomes exclusively higher than value one while the quaternionic transmission coefficient becomes lower than zero.