Understanding Electron Spin and its Role in Atomic Structure

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of electron spin and its role in atomic structure, exploring both the nature of electron movement around the nucleus and the underlying principles of quantum mechanics. Participants examine the implications of electron spin in relation to magnetism and the limitations of current understanding in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that electrons revolve around the nucleus due to forces, while others clarify that this is not an accurate representation, suggesting that electron movement is better described as probability distributions.
  • One participant states that electrons do not actually spin around their own axis and questions the existence of an underlying mechanism for spin, noting that quantum field theory allows for the concept of spin but does not explain why it exists in nature.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the electron is considered fundamental and lacks a structure, which complicates the understanding of why it exhibits spin.
  • There is mention of the relationship between electron spin and magnetism, highlighting its significance in physical reality.
  • A request for book recommendations on quantum physics is made, with a suggestion that Griffiths' text is accessible but still requires some mathematical background.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of electron movement and spin, with no consensus reached on the underlying mechanisms or explanations for these phenomena. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the fundamental nature of electron spin.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations in current understanding, particularly regarding the metaphysical implications of why spin exists and the challenges in explaining such phenomena within the framework of physics.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying quantum mechanics, atomic structure, or anyone curious about the foundational concepts of particle physics and their implications.

thunderhadron
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Hi friends I've a big andu here.
Electron revolts around the nucleus in the circular path. Its due to the force between them.
Why the electron spins around its own axis?
 
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thunderhadron said:
Electron revolts around the nucleus in the circular path. Its due to the force between them.
Why the electron spins around its own axis?

Although a bound electron has both spin and orbital angular momentum, it neither travels in a circular path around the nucleus nor spins around its own axis (for that matter, it doesn't even have an axis to spin around).

If you want to know about the spin and orbital angular momentum of an electron, you have to use the quantum mechanical formalism and go with the answers that formalism produces; there is nothing more there, at least that we've been able to find in the last century of looking.
 
"Why the electron spins around its own axis?"
If you are looking for an underlying "mechanism" or something, as far as we know there is none.
People in quantum field theory can show that particles (quantum fields) *may have* a spin, i.e. spin is not forbidden by special relativity and the Rules of Quantum Mechanics.
But why there actually *is* something like a spin (i.e., why this possibility is actually realized in nature), nobody knows - physics is not very good at answering "why"-questions, we do much better with "how"-questions.
 
thunderhadron said:
Hi friends I've a big andu here.
Electron revolts around the nucleus in the circular path. Its due to the force between them.
Why the electron spins around its own axis?
No, the electrons do not really revolve around the nucleus, and it's not because of forces between them. Their 'movement' can only be modeled as probability distributions around the nucleus. Why the electron spins around its own axis - well the electron doesn't have a structure(as far is currently known) so all it does is taken to be fundamental and can only be described(it's not understood in terms of more basic mechanisms).
Electron spin is responsible for magnetism, so it's an essential feature of our reality. Why it spins is a metaphysical question.
 
can Any1 suggest me a book for quantum physics which has a deep study inside it along with a bit easy language to understand?
 
I think Griffiths is the easiest that I've seen. It still requires a bit of Linear Algebra and DiffEq's both ordinary and partial. I don't know of any others "real" quantum books that are less formal.
 

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