Spin 360 rotation - experiment

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Rotating an electron by 360 degrees results in its spinor flipping, represented mathematically as (\vert \psi \rangle \rightarrow -\vert \psi \rangle). This phenomenon has not been conclusively observed in experiments like the Stern-Gerlach experiment. In contrast, experiments with neutrons indicate that they return to their original state after being rotated by an angle of 4π, as noted in H. Rauch et al.'s 1975 study. The discussion highlights the complexities of measuring spin and the implications of the electron's spin g-factor, which is 2, affecting its charge and mass distribution.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum mechanics and spinors
  • Familiarity with the Stern-Gerlach experiment
  • Knowledge of neutron precession and angular frequency calculations
  • Basic concepts of magnetic moments and g-factors in particle physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mathematical implications of spinor transformations in quantum mechanics
  • Explore modifications of the Stern-Gerlach experiment for electron spin measurement
  • Investigate neutron precession experiments and their findings
  • Study the implications of the electron's spin g-factor on particle physics
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, quantum mechanics students, and researchers interested in particle spin and experimental physics.

neworder1
Messages
64
Reaction score
0
Rotating an electron by 360 degrees causes its spinor to flip sing (\vert \psi \rangle \rightarrow -\vert \psi \rangle). Has this effect been observed experimentally (e.g. in an appropriate modification of the Stern-Gerlach experiment)?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi neworder1! :smile:
neworder1 said:
Rotating an electron by 360 degrees causes its spinor to flip sing (\vert \psi \rangle \rightarrow -\vert \psi \rangle). Has this effect been observed experimentally (e.g. in an appropriate modification of the Stern-Gerlach experiment)?

Wouldn't it be easier to send it along two paths, along one of which it is rotated in a magnetic field, then join them and see how they interfere?

(I assume it's been done, but I don't know)
 
neworder1 said:
Has this effect been observed experimentally (e.g. in an appropriate modification of the Stern-Gerlach experiment)?

For electrons, I think it is difficult, and I don't know that experiment.

For neutrons, there are some experiments in which the spinning neutrons went back to the original forms when they are rotated by an angle of 4pai (not 2pai).
(H. Rauch et al. Phys.Lett. 54A (1975) 425)

But in this real world, is it really possible?

In these experiments, they rotated the neutrons around the spin axis by using " precession".
The angular frequency of the precession is

\omega = \frac{g \mu_N}{\hbar} H

So, if spin g-factor becomes half, the angular frequency becomes half and the neutrons will go back to their original when they are rotated by 2pai (not 4pai).

There are some problems about spin.
For example, the electron spin g-factor is 2, so this means that the charge and mass of one electron is unequally distributed.
And the electron is too small by scatteing experiments, so by equating the spin angular momentum to 1/2 hbar, spinning sphere speed leads to more than 100 times the speed of light.

We can experimentally measure the (spin) magnetic moment.
If spin is simple circular movement like Bohr model, angular momentum becomes hbar (not 1/2 hbar) and (spin) g-factor becomes half (2 >> 1) (due to 2 x 1/2 = 1 x 1, the magnetic moment will not change).

Which case is more natural?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
3K