Can a Magnetic Field Affect the Path of a Photon?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around whether a magnetic field can influence the trajectory of a photon, exploring the relationship between photon properties and magnetic fields. The scope includes theoretical considerations and conceptual clarifications regarding the nature of photons and their interactions with magnetic fields.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that since photons have spin 1, they might experience a force from a magnetic field, potentially altering their path.
  • Another participant counters that the relevant property is not spin angular momentum but rather magnetic moment.
  • A subsequent post reiterates the focus on magnetic moment and questions whether photons possess a magnetic moment.
  • A later reply asserts that photons do not have charge, dipole, or magnetic moment, implying they would not be affected by a magnetic field.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the influence of magnetic fields on photons, with no consensus reached regarding the role of spin versus magnetic moment or the existence of a magnetic moment for photons.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the distinction between spin and magnetic moment, as well as the implications of these properties for photon behavior in magnetic fields, without resolving the underlying assumptions or definitions involved.

kent davidge
Messages
931
Reaction score
56
Electrons have spin 1/2 and interact with a magnetic field. Since photons have spin 1, I suppose they also feels a force on a magnetic field. So that means that light can be deviated from its original path by a magnetic field?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The important property is not spin angular momentum, but magnetic moment.
 
DrClaude said:
The important property is not spin angular momentum, but magnetic moment.
Do photons have magnetic moment?
 
Nope. No charge, dipole, or magnetic moment.
 

Similar threads

High School Quantum teleportation of usable information
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
2K
Undergrad Particle field strength and sensitivity
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
910
Undergrad Can an electron in a magnetic field radiate a virtual photon?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
High School What exactly is spin? Does the standard model work without spin?
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
3K
High School Virtual photons as force carriers
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
3K
Undergrad Is the photon field a vector field and a gauge field?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Undergrad Direction of motion of particles with total spin under magnetic field
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
High School Electron charge and spin creating a magnetic field?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
High School Is there a magnetic interaction between light and charged particles?
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
2K
Undergrad Precession of spin in a magnetic field
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K