What exactly is a classical Rotator and quantum-mechanical Rotator

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In summary, a classical rotator and a quantum mechanical rotator are two ways of describing a plane rotator, which has an angular degree of freedom and an associated angular moment of inertia. The quantum mechanical rotator is of pedagogical interest. To find energy levels in phase space for a rotator, one would need to describe it using quantum mechanics.
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qbslug
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Please tell me,what exactly is a classical Rotator and quantum-mechanical Rotator.
I could use any information since I am not familiar with rotators. Also how would you find energy levels in phase space for a rotator?
Thanks
 
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The plane rotator is something that has an angular degree of freedom (and an associated angular moment of inertia). You can picture it as a rigid body which has two fixed points if you want to, but that's giving more structure to it than is strictly necessary.
If you describe it classically, you have the classical rotator, if you describe it quantum-mechanically, you have the quantum mechanical rotator. It is only that last one that has any pedagogical interest.
 
  • #3
for your question. A classical Rotator is a physical system that rotates about an axis, such as a spinning top or a spinning wheel. In classical mechanics, the motion of a Rotator can be described using Newton's laws of motion and the principles of conservation of energy and angular momentum. The position and velocity of the Rotator can be described using coordinates in phase space.

On the other hand, a quantum-mechanical Rotator is a physical system that follows the laws of quantum mechanics. In this case, the motion of the Rotator is described using the Schrödinger equation and the principles of quantum mechanics, such as superposition and uncertainty. The position and velocity of the Rotator are described using wave functions and probabilities.

To find the energy levels in phase space for a Rotator, we can use the classical Hamiltonian formulation or the quantum-mechanical Hamiltonian operator. In the classical approach, the energy levels can be found by solving the equations of motion for the Rotator and determining the allowed values of energy. In the quantum-mechanical approach, the energy levels can be found by solving the Schrödinger equation and determining the allowed eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian operator. Both approaches will result in a discrete set of energy levels for the Rotator. I hope this helps clarify the difference between classical and quantum-mechanical Rotators.
 

What is a classical Rotator?

A classical Rotator is a physical system that rotates around a fixed axis, following the laws of classical mechanics. It can be described using classical equations of motion, such as Newton's laws of motion.

What is a quantum-mechanical Rotator?

A quantum-mechanical Rotator is a physical system that rotates around a fixed axis, but follows the laws of quantum mechanics. It can be described using quantum mechanical equations, such as the Schrödinger equation.

What is the main difference between a classical Rotator and a quantum-mechanical Rotator?

The main difference between a classical Rotator and a quantum-mechanical Rotator is the way they are described and the laws that govern their behavior. A classical Rotator follows classical mechanics, while a quantum-mechanical Rotator follows quantum mechanics.

Can a classical Rotator and a quantum-mechanical Rotator coexist in the same system?

Yes, a classical Rotator and a quantum-mechanical Rotator can coexist in the same system. In fact, classical mechanics can be seen as an approximation of quantum mechanics for large systems, so classical Rotators can be thought of as a special case of quantum-mechanical Rotators.

What are some real-world examples of classical Rotators and quantum-mechanical Rotators?

A classical Rotator can be seen in the rotation of the Earth around its axis or the rotation of a spinning top. A quantum-mechanical Rotator can be seen in the rotation of an electron around the nucleus of an atom or the rotation of a molecule in a magnetic field.

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