Adding Two Spins to Vector Quantities

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the addition of spin in quantum mechanics (QM), specifically how to combine the spins of two particles. The total state of two particles is represented by their tensor product, denoted as |\psi_{tot}\rangle=|\psi_1\rangle|\psi_2\rangle. For particles with spins S_1=1/2 and S_2=1/2, the combined spin is calculated using the tensor product |S\rangle=|S_1,S_{1z}\rangle|S_2,S_{2z}\rangle, where S_{iz} represents the third component of each spin. The Clebsch-Gordan coefficients are essential for this calculation, resulting in possible total spins of S=0 or S=1.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum mechanics principles
  • Familiarity with tensor products in quantum states
  • Knowledge of Clebsch-Gordan coefficients
  • Basic concepts of spin in quantum systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the application of Clebsch-Gordan coefficients in quantum mechanics
  • Learn about the representation of quantum states using Dirac notation
  • Explore the implications of spin addition in quantum entanglement
  • Investigate the role of angular momentum in quantum mechanics
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, particularly those specializing in quantum mechanics, quantum computing, and particle physics, will benefit from this discussion.

Quarlep
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Spin is a quantity of vector but I don't know how to add them ? Please be simple
Thanks
 
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I don't know if that's simple enough, but in QM spin is not an ordinary vector. In general, in QM when you have two systems (say two particles) represented by [itex]|\psi_1\rangle[/itex] and [itex]|\psi_2\rangle[/itex], the total state composed by the two particles is given by their tensor product: [itex]|\psi_{tot}\rangle=|\psi_1\rangle|\psi_2\rangle[/itex].

The same thing is valid for spins. If you have two particles with, for example, spins [itex]S_1=1/2[/itex] and [itex]S_2=1/2[/itex], then the total spin [itex]S=S_1+S_2[/itex] is given by the tensor product [itex]|S\rangle=|S_1,S_{1z}\rangle|S_2,S_{2z}\rangle[/itex], where [itex]S_{iz}[/itex] is the value of the third component of the i-th spin. To do this composition you need the so called Clebsch-Gordan coefficients. Anyway, the final spin can be [itex]S=0,1[/itex] and the value of its third component is given by this tables.

This is very very shortly explained but I hope is clear enough.
 
Yeah its clear enough thanks
 

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