Spin of photons/gamma ray transitions

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter freeman2
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Ray Spin
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the properties of photons and their role in gamma ray transitions, specifically addressing the conservation of angular momentum in nuclear transitions. It is established that while photons inherently possess a spin of 1, they can indeed participate in transitions involving changes in nuclear spin greater than 1 due to their ability to carry orbital angular momentum. This allows for transitions from higher spin states, such as spin 4 to spin 2, without violating angular momentum conservation laws.

PREREQUISITES
  • Nuclear physics fundamentals
  • Understanding of angular momentum conservation
  • Knowledge of photon properties and spin
  • Familiarity with gamma ray transitions
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the role of orbital angular momentum in photon emission
  • Study the implications of spin statistics in quantum mechanics
  • Explore advanced topics in nuclear level schemes
  • Investigate experimental methods for observing gamma ray transitions
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, nuclear engineers, and students studying quantum mechanics and nuclear physics who are interested in the behavior of photons and gamma ray transitions.

freeman2
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
When I look at a nuclear level scheme, there are many gamma ray transitions from energy levels of say, spin 4 to spin 2. However, my understanding was that photons carry spin 1, and so conservation of angular momentum would say that you can only change the spin of a level by 1. What am I missing here? Can photons carry any integer spin, eg 1,2,3...?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The photon can be emitted with orbital angular momentum relative to the emitting nucleus.
 

Similar threads

Graduate Why KE of Annihilation Electrons Differs?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Graduate Do Pair Produced Particles Always Have Opposite Spins?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
Graduate Understanding Gamma-Ray Decay Spin Rules
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
Undergrad Spin and helicity conservation in QED
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
6K
Graduate Beta Decay, why did they have to resort to Neutrinos?
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
5K
Undergrad Understanding Spin and Helicity Conservation in Relativistic Interactions
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
Graduate Coleman: "Spin is a concept that applies only to particles with mass"
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Undergrad Forbidden decays and conservation laws
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Undergrad Ultra-high energy photon interactions with matter
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
High School Which one is more efficient in generating high energy Gamma rays?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K