The Dirac Equation as a Privileged Road to the Understanding of Quantum Matter

The Dirac equation, which was derived by combining, in a consistent manner, the relativistic invariance condition with the quantum probability principle, has shown its fecundity by explaining the half-integer spin of fermions and predicting antiparticles, the former resulting from a wave beat between a particle and its antiparticle. In our previous papers, it was conjectured that the spinning motion of the electron was that of a massless charge at light speed, this internal motion being responsible for the rest mass measured in external motions and interactions. Implications of this concept on such basic properties as time, mass, electric charge, and magnetic moment were considered. The present paper is a recollection of these ideas aimed at a general understanding of quantum matter.