- #1
ran13
- 19
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Homework Statement
I use Griffiths and see the example for spin 1/2 to derive the eigenspinor of Sx. I just can't seem to follow how he get from there or how he is measuring the probability for a given state.
Homework Equations
I have correctly derived the spin operator for Sx for a spin 1 particle:
Sx = [itex]ħ/\sqrt{2}\left| \begin{matrix} 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \end{matrix} \right| [/itex]
The Attempt at a Solution
Trying to solve the equation
[itex]ħ/\sqrt{2}\left| \begin{matrix} 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \end{matrix} \right| \left| \begin{matrix} a \\ b \\ c \end{matrix} \right|
=
λ \left| \begin{matrix} a \\ b \\ c \end{matrix} \right|
[/itex]
where a, b, c are the three spin states: up, zero, down for a spin 1 particle. And of course λ are the eigenvalues for this operator, which I found to be λ = 0, +/- ħ.
I'm stuck on how to proceed further. How do I find the eigenspinsors and how do I move on to make probability measurements for each state, given some initial state?
I'd appreciate any help at all since I've made myself quite confused. Thank you!