Are there any regulating condition on the spin of particle?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the regulating conditions on the spin of particles, exploring why certain particles have specific spin values, such as the electron's spin being 1/2 and the photon's spin being 1. The conversation touches on concepts from quantum mechanics, angular momentum, and symmetry in particle physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that an electron's spin is an intrinsic property related to its angular momentum, which is quantized.
  • There is a suggestion that the finite nature of spin values may be due to the quantization of angular momentum and the conditions under which particles are formed.
  • One participant questions the relationship between symmetry (e.g., Lorentz symmetry) and the quantization of energy, particularly in relation to angular momentum.
  • Another participant inquires about the general transformations of spinors or field operators for high spin particles under Lorentz symmetry.
  • It is noted that if a particle exhibits different quantum numbers than standard particles, it may not be classified as one of the standard particles.
  • A later reply confirms that there are irreducible unitary representations of the Poincare group corresponding to each mass and spin value, which define transformation behavior.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on the nature of spin and its relation to intrinsic properties and symmetry, indicating that multiple competing views remain without a consensus on the underlying reasons for the specific spin values of particles.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations include the lack of clarity on why angular momentum is quantized and the dependence on definitions of intrinsic properties and standard particles.

ndung200790
Messages
519
Reaction score
0
Please teach me this:
Are there any regulating limit on spin of particle?.E.g why spin of electron is 1/2 but not 3/2,spin of photon is 1 but not 2 e.t.c
Thank you very much in advance.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Currently, what is assumed is that an electron's spin is an intrinsic property. That it originates from the angular momentum of the particle.

In quantum mechanics, angular momentum is quantized (meaning that it is not only comprised of energy but also of particles). Since physical particles are enabling this spin to occur, there should be a countable, finite number of them. Perhaps that explains why the numbers are finite ratios of integers, and not weird repeating decimals.

I cannot answer WHY every particle has some intrinsic angular momentum (probably due to the conditions under which it was formed).

One of the "regulating conditions" you ask about is most likely the quantization of angular momentum. Generally when you think of angular momentum, you think of some kind of energetic value, not chunks of matter that are rotating the object in question around.
If you want to know why angular momentum is quantized, you can refer to this thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=194897

This is a good source to read further: http://www.electronspin.org/
Also, this Wikipedia page explains how in relatively simple terms (but not why): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spin_(physics )
 
Last edited by a moderator:
So,are there any relations between symmetry(e.g Lorentz symmetry) and quantization of energy(because we think of angular momentum as some kind of energy)?
 
Are there any general transformation of spinor(or field operator of high spin particles) under Lorentz symmetry?
 
gluefish said:
I cannot answer WHY every particle has some intrinsic angular momentum (probably due to the conditions under which it was formed).

Because it is part of the defining conditions. If one observes a particle with different quantum numbers (mass, spin, and charges) from one of the standard ones, one concludes that it is not one of the standard particles.
 
ndung200790 said:
Are there any general transformation of spinor (or field operator of high spin particles) under Lorentz symmetry?

Yes. To each valuie of mass (m>=0) and spin (s=0,1/2, 1,...), there is a corresponding irreducible unitary representation of the Poincare group, which defines this transformation behavior. This is explained in detail in Chapter 2 of Vol. 1 of Weinberg's book ''The quantum theory of fields'' for particles, and in Chapter 6 for the corresponding field operators.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 124 ·
5
Replies
124
Views
9K
  • · Replies 42 ·
2
Replies
42
Views
5K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
2K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K