How do parities add up in a two-body system in the shell model?

In summary, the concept of "parity" in a two body system refers to the symmetry of the system under a specific transformation, known as parity transformation. Parity is determined by examining the behavior of the system under this transformation, with even parity representing no change and odd parity representing a sign change. The significance of parity lies in its role in determining the behavior of the system under certain interactions and its impact on the properties of the system. While parity can change under certain conditions, in systems where parity conservation is a fundamental principle, it remains unchanged.
  • #1
physics_fun
28
0
I'm confused about how parities 'add up'.
(I'm using the shell model of a nucleus)
If you have e.g.a neutron in a d state (so l=2) and one in a p state (l=1), what is the parity of the total system? Do you have to multiply (+1*-1=-1?) or add the l values or something completely different?
 
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  • #2
Hey
The parity [tex]\pi[/tex] for a state is [tex](-1)^{l}[/tex] The total parity is
[tex]\pi_{1}*\pi_{2}[/tex] or
[tex](-1)^{l_{1}+l_{2}}[/tex]
 
  • #3
Thanks!:smile:
 
  • #4
Yes, parities are multiplied.
 

1. What is the concept of "parity" in a two body system?

The concept of "parity" in a two body system refers to the symmetry of the system under a specific transformation, known as parity transformation. This transformation involves swapping the positions and momenta of the two bodies, while keeping all other physical properties unchanged.

2. How is parity determined in a two body system?

Parity is determined by examining the behavior of the system under parity transformation. If the system remains unchanged, it is said to have even parity (also known as +1). If the system changes sign, it has odd parity (also known as -1). This is determined by the relative spin and angular momentum of the two bodies.

3. What is the significance of parity in a two body system?

The significance of parity lies in its role in determining the behavior of the system under certain interactions. In some systems, parity conservation is a fundamental principle, meaning that the total parity of the system must remain unchanged during interactions. In others, parity violation can lead to important insights into the fundamental laws of physics.

4. How does parity affect the properties of a two body system?

The parity of a two body system can affect its properties in various ways. For example, in nuclear physics, the parity of a nucleus can determine its stability. In particle physics, the parity of a particle can determine its decay modes. In general, parity plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior and interactions of a two body system.

5. Can parity change in a two body system?

Yes, parity can change in a two body system under certain conditions. As mentioned earlier, interactions can lead to parity violation, where the total parity of the system changes. In some cases, parity can also be changed through parity-changing interactions, where the parity of one or both of the bodies is altered. However, in systems where parity conservation is a fundamental principle, parity cannot change.

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