Does a charge have spin outside an atom?

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies that while electrons possess spin outside of atoms, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) primarily accelerates protons, not electrons. In electron-positron colliders, the spin of particles is considered, but it is largely irrelevant in high-energy proton-(anti)proton collisions due to the nature of deep inelastic collisions. The proton spin is minimal, leading to a lack of concern among scientists regarding its impact on experimental outcomes.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of particle physics concepts, particularly spin
  • Familiarity with the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) operations
  • Knowledge of electron-positron colliders and their significance
  • Basic principles of deep inelastic scattering
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the role of spin in electron-positron colliders
  • Explore the mechanics of deep inelastic scattering in particle physics
  • Study the implications of proton spin in high-energy physics experiments
  • Investigate the TOTEM experiment and its focus on proton spin
USEFUL FOR

Particle physicists, researchers in high-energy physics, and students studying the behavior of subatomic particles will benefit from this discussion.

aditya23456
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Is spin of electron taken into account when people accelerate electron in LHC?
 
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The LHC accelerates protons, not electrons.

Electrons (and all other particles with spin) have a spin outside of atoms.

This spin is taken into account at electron- positron colliders.

The spin is not relevant at high-energetic proton-(anti)proton collisions, as you don't care about elastic collisions there*. Deep inelastic collisions (the interesting stuff) are collisions between parts of the protons, where you cannot control the spin anyway.*don't tell that the scientists of the TOTEM experiment. But the proton spin is so small that I don't think they care about it.
 

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