What are the matter wave polarization parameters?

[Greylorn]

E/M waves can be polarized, presumably, by filtering either their electric or magnetic transverse vectors.

What about matter waves? Can they be electrically or magnetically polarized? Can they be polarized with respect to spin, parity, or any other parameter?

That's a lot of explanation, so could someone please point me in the direction of mid-level reference material on the subject? Thanks!

 

[Vanadium 50]

You mean the wavefunction in the Schroedinger equation? No, the structure of the mathematics is such that those waves do not support a polarization. In that regard, they are like water waves.

 

[jtbell]

E/M waves can be polarized, presumably, by filtering either their electric or magnetic transverse vectors.

What about matter waves?

\Psi is a scalar, not a vector. Its value at a single point has no direction associated with it, unlike the electric and magnetic fields, which are vectors and do have a direction. Therefore a wave solution for \Psi cannot have a polarization associated with it. The only direction associated with a \Psi wave is the direction of propagation.

 

[Greylorn]

Vanadium 50 & jtbell---

Thanks for your replies! I shall assume that they apply to all forms of matter waves, single electrons passing through closely paired slits, etc. unless you let me know otherwise. That (i.e. no polarization) would be consistent with the information I've been unable to find.