This may seem like a very strange question

[Tjen]

I'm attempting to create a quiz with the first 8 answers with the possible answers of any of up, down, left, and right... From doing research, I understand this is possible for quantum mechanic problems in reguards to spin. Is this true? I would like to make a believeable college level simple quiz/test that has these answer possibilities for the first 8 question. Please let me know, thanks.

 

[Meir Achuz]

I'm attempting to create a quiz with the first 8 answers with the possible answers of any of up, down, left, and right... From doing research, I understand this is possible for quantum mechanic problems in reguards to spin. Is this true? I would like to make a believeable college level simple quiz/test that has these answer possibilities for the first 8 question. Please let me know, thanks.

For spin in QM, there is only M_S, which is the spin projection along a chosen axis. This makes "left" and "right" hard to define.

 

[koantum]

For spin in QM, there is only M_S, which is the spin projection along a chosen axis. This makes "left" and "right" hard to define.

What about left-handed and right-handed spin-1/2 particles? Possible question: what is the handedness of the (electron) neutrino?

 

[Meir Achuz]

What about left-handed and right-handed spin-1/2 particles? Possible question: what is the handedness of the (electron) neutrino?

By convention, "right-handed" for a particle's spin means that the "helicity" is positive (and v-v for LH). Helicity equals the component of a particle's spin along the direction of its momentum. The reason for this designation is probably that, in classical terminology, positive angular momentum component corresponds to right-handed rotation. Even though there is no rotation in the QM spin of an elementary particle, the notation is still used.

The "handedness" of a particle is a bit more involved. It refers to the way the particle interacts in weak interactions. Electrons and neutrinos in beta decay come out with negative helicity and are said to be intrinsically "left-handed". Postrons and antineutrinos are said to be "right-handed".

 

[koantum]

By convention, "right-handed" for a particle's spin means ...

Actually I offered these questions only as example questions for Tjen's quizz. Didn't mean to get an answer!