Spin - overlapping photons with opposite spin

In summary, the conversation discusses the possibility of two photons with opposite spin overlapping completely and what this arrangement could correspond to in nature. However, it is concluded that photons do not interact with each other and there would be no noteworthy physical manifestation in this scenario.
  • #1
Usaf Moji
72
0
Hi. Couple of questions:

1) is it physically possible for two photons to overlap completely while having opposite spin (so one is +1, the other is -1, and they overlap like in a laser)?

2) if yes, what would this arrangement of photons correspond to, if anything, i.e. where in nature would you find such an arrangement? (e.g. Is this how photons would interact between a south pole and a north pole or between a positive charge and negative charge? Would it have any other noteworthy physical manifestation?)

All responses appreciated.
 
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  • #2
Photons do not interact with each other. Photons of opposite spin can overlap, pass through one another, etc. Nothing of interest will happen.
 

1. What is spin in physics?

Spin is an intrinsic property of particles, similar to mass and charge, that describes their angular momentum. In quantum mechanics, spin is quantized and can have only certain discrete values.

2. How do overlapping photons with opposite spin behave?

When photons with opposite spin overlap, they can either cancel each other out or combine to form a new polarization state. This phenomenon is known as spin interference.

3. What is the significance of spin - overlapping photons with opposite spin?

The behavior of overlapping photons with opposite spin can provide insight into the fundamental properties of light, such as its wave-particle duality. It also has important applications in fields such as quantum computing and telecommunications.

4. Can spin - overlapping photons violate the laws of conservation of angular momentum?

No, the laws of conservation of angular momentum still apply to spin - overlapping photons. Even though photons do not have mass, they still possess angular momentum through their spin.

5. How is spin - overlapping photons with opposite spin related to the Pauli exclusion principle?

The Pauli exclusion principle states that no two particles can occupy the same quantum state simultaneously. Spin - overlapping photons with opposite spin demonstrate this principle by showing that photons with the same spin cannot occupy the same space at the same time.

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