Do charged particles always have spin?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between charge and spin in particles, specifically questioning whether charged particles always possess spin and if charge and spin are inherently linked. The scope includes theoretical considerations of particle physics and the properties of elementary particles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether charged particles always have spin and if charge and spin are always associated.
  • Another participant notes that charged pions have an electric charge but possess a total angular momentum (J) of 0, suggesting that not all charged particles have spin.
  • It is mentioned that all charged elementary particles known have spin, with the Higgs boson being the only known spin-0 particle.
  • Participants identify uncharged elementary particles with spin, such as neutrinos, photons, and Z-bosons, and mention that gluons are electrically uncharged but carry color charge.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on whether charged particles always have spin, as some participants provide examples of charged particles without spin, while others assert that charged elementary particles do possess spin.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of the relationship between charge and spin, with various examples provided that may depend on specific definitions and contexts within particle physics.

synch
Messages
84
Reaction score
11
(Apologies for a basic question) Do charged particles always have spin ? Maybe a better question is, are charge and spin always associated ?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Charged pions have an electric charge but J=0.

All charged elementary particles we know have a spin - because the (uncharged) Higgs boson is the only spin 0 particle we know.
We know uncharged elementary particles with spin - neutrinos.
 
Reply
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: ohwilleke, vanhees71 and synch
mfb said:
We know uncharged elementary particles with spin - neutrinos.
And photons!
And Z-bosons.

Gluons are also electrically uncharged but carry color charge.
 
Reply
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: ohwilleke, vanhees71, mfb and 1 other person
Thanks !
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Violation of spin conservation in pion annihilation
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Graduate Relation between nuclear shape and it spin number
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
Graduate Why do the proton and electron have equal and opposite electric charge?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
Undergrad Why do all fermions have the same spin 1/2?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
High School Conservation of charge in a nuclear reaction
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Undergrad Best way to focus charged particles back to their source?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
1K
Undergrad How do you get polarized charged particles?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
High School A doubt on the fundamental unit of charge
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
High School How does the LHC send same charged particles against each other?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Graduate What are Z+, Z-, N+, and N- in the Axial Charge Definition?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K