Does photon spin imply its polarization

[a2009]

Hi all,

I know that the photon has spin 1. Does its magnetic number, the m in | \ell m \rangle imply its polarization? For instance if m=1, does that mean it has circular polarization?

Personally I see no connection between the two.

Thanks for any help.

 

[A. Neumaier]

I know that the photon has spin 1. Does its magnetic number, the m in | \ell m \rangle imply its polarization? For instance if m=1, does that mean it has circular polarization?

The two helicity states m=+1 and m=-1 correspond to left and right circularly polarized light.
Superpositions describe light of arbitrary but fixed polarization.

The state m=0 is forbidden since the photon is massless.