Third-order relativistic dynamics: classical spinning particle travelling in a plane

Abstract

Mathisson's 'new mechanics' of a relativistic spinning particle is shown to follow, in the case of planar motion, from only general requirements of relativistic invariance and of the dependence on third order derivatives along with the 'variationality' feature. The Hamiltonian counterpart ultimately recovers the Dixon system of equations for this case with the Mathisson-Pirani supplementary condition.