Can an Electron's Angular Momentum Change by Absorbing Virtual Photons?

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SUMMARY

An electron in an electromagnetic field can change its total angular momentum by absorbing virtual photons, but its intrinsic angular momentum, or spin, remains constant. The spin of the electron, a fundamental property, does not vary in magnitude, although its direction can change. This distinction is crucial in understanding the behavior of electrons under electromagnetic influences.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum mechanics principles
  • Familiarity with angular momentum in quantum systems
  • Knowledge of electromagnetic fields and their effects on particles
  • Basic concepts of virtual particles in quantum field theory
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  • Research the role of virtual photons in quantum electrodynamics (QED)
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Physicists, students of quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the interactions of particles within electromagnetic fields.

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i wonder whether an electron is absorbing virtual photons because it is in a electromagnetic field, would that mean that it would change its angular momentum by hbar?
 
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An electron never changes its intrinsic angular momentum, its spin. (The direction changes, but not the amount.) That is a fundamental property of the particle. Certainly the total angular momentum can and does change under the influence of the EM field.
 

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