Spinor Spreading: Relation between \psi and \chi

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In summary, the conversation discusses the relationship between the spreading of the spatial factor and the spinor in the full description of a particle. It is clarified that a spinor does not spread and is not conical in shape. The spinor only defines the direction of spin and can be visualized as a sphere rotating around the axis defined by the spinor. The idea of Lamour precession is also mentioned, but its connection to the spinor is not fully explained.
  • #1
intervoxel
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Since a full description of a particle is the product \psi \chi, what's the relation between the spreading of the spatial factor \psi and of its spinor \chi?
 
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intervoxel said:
Since a full description of a particle is the product \psi \chi, what's the relation between the spreading of the spatial factor \psi and of its spinor \chi?

Hi intervoxel! :smile:

A spinor doesn't spread. :wink:
 
  • #3
Ok, tiny-tim, a spinor doesn't spread. Thank you. :)

So, I suppose, we can visualize the spinor "cloud" as a conical surface (s=1/2, up state, say) made of up vectors with length hbar/2 centered around an axis in a certain direction in space so that its projection on that direction alone always returns the value hbar/2, while for others directions we might obtain any value, positive or negative. Is this picture correct?

In the case when we apply a magnetic field in that direction the Lamour precession means that the cone is denser (greater probability) around a vector precessing at the Lamour frequency. Is it?
 
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… on the road to Morocco …

intervoxel said:
So, I suppose, we can visualize the spinor "cloud" as a conical surface (s=1/2, up state, say) made of up vectors with length hbar/2 centered around an axis in a certain direction in space so that its projection on that direction alone always returns the value hbar/2, while for others directions we might obtain any value, positive or negative. Is this picture correct?

Hi intervoxel! :smile:

Any "cloud" that you see in diagrams of electron distributions has nothing to do with the spinor.

There is nothing conical about a spinor.

The spinor just defines the direction of spin …

if you want to visualise a spinor as a volume, then use a sphere, rotating about the axis defined by the spinor. :smile:
In the case when we apply a magnetic field in that direction the Lamour precession means that the cone is denser (greater probability) around a vector precessing at the Lamour frequency. Is it?

Is that the Dorothy Lamour precession? :wink:

She gets around, doesn't she?
 

What is spinor spreading?

Spinor spreading is a phenomenon in quantum mechanics where the spin of a particle can spread out in space, causing the wave function to change with respect to time.

What is the relationship between \psi and \chi?

Both \psi and \chi are mathematical representations of the wave function in quantum mechanics. The relationship between them is that \psi is the spinor part and \chi is the spatial part of the wave function.

How does spinor spreading affect the behavior of particles?

Spinor spreading can affect the behavior of particles by causing their wave function to change over time, which can lead to changes in their spin and angular momentum.

What factors contribute to spinor spreading?

Spinor spreading can be influenced by several factors, such as the spin of the particle, its interaction with other particles or fields, and the conditions of the environment it is in.

Can spinor spreading be observed in experiments?

Yes, spinor spreading has been observed in various experiments, such as the Stern-Gerlach experiment and the double-slit experiment. These experiments provide evidence for the existence of spinor spreading and its impact on the behavior of particles.

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