Why a particle with spin=0 can't posses a magnetic dipole moment?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

A particle with spin=0 cannot possess a magnetic dipole moment due to the intrinsic relationship between spin and magnetic moment. According to the Wigner-Eckart theorem, the total angular momentum ##\vec{J}## is defined as ##\vec{J} = \vec{L} + \vec{S}##, where ##\vec{S}## is the spin. If the spin ##s=0##, then the magnetic moment associated with spin, given by the equation ##\boldsymbol{ \mu } = g \dfrac{e}{2 m} \textbf{S}##, results in a zero magnetic moment. Thus, for a particle with spin=0, the only possible angular momentum is orbital, not spin-related.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum mechanics concepts such as spin and angular momentum.
  • Familiarity with the Wigner-Eckart theorem and its implications.
  • Knowledge of magnetic moments and their relationship to spin.
  • Basic grasp of quantum numbers and their significance in particle physics.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the Wigner-Eckart theorem in detail to understand its applications in quantum mechanics.
  • Explore the concept of orbital angular momentum and its role in particle physics.
  • Research the relationship between spin and magnetic moments in various particle types.
  • Examine the implications of spin=0 particles in quantum field theory.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physicists, students of quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the properties of particles, particularly in understanding the implications of spin and magnetic moments.

happyparticle
Messages
490
Reaction score
24
Homework Statement
Why a particle with spin=0 can't posses a dipole moment?
Relevant Equations
##\langle j'|| \vec{J}|| j \rangle = \hbar \sqrt{j(j+1)} \delta_{jj'}##
Hi,
I would like to know why a particle with spin=0 can't posses a magnetic dipole moment?

Using Wigner-Eckart theorem for ##\langle j,1,m,0|j,m \rangle## I get ##\langle j'|| \vec{J}|| j \rangle = \hbar \sqrt{j(j+1)} \delta_{jj'}##

It seems like the right hand side is the magnetic dipole moment. Thus, j must be 0 for a particle with spin =0.

However, I'm not so sure to understand what j means.
I'll try to explain what I understand.
##\vec{J}## is the total angular momentum and ##\vec{J} = \vec{L} + \vec{S}##, where ##\vec{S}## is the spin.
Furthermore, we have 2 systems (2 particles) ##\langle j'|| \vec{J}|| j \rangle = \hbar \sqrt{j(j+1)} \delta_{jj'}##
where ##j_1 = j, j_2 = 1 , m_1 = m, m_2 =0## and ##j = j_1 + j_2, m = m_1 + m_2##

Are ##j_1, j_2## the total angular momentums for each particle and what exactly are ## m_1, m_2##? Are they quantum number ##m_s## ?

If the spin of the particle is null then ##\vec{S} = 0## which mean ##\vec{J} = \vec{L}##

This is all I know. I can't show that j=0.

I hope this is clear...

thank you
 
Physics news on Phys.org
happyparticle said:
Homework Statement:: Why a particle with spin=0 can't posses a dipole moment?
Relevant Equations:: ##\langle j'|| \vec{J}|| j \rangle = \hbar \sqrt{j(j+1)} \delta_{jj'}##

Hi,
I would like to know why a particle with spin=0 can't posses a magnetic dipole moment?

Using Wigner-Eckart theorem for ##\langle j,1,m,0|j,m \rangle## I get ##\langle j'|| \vec{J}|| j \rangle = \hbar \sqrt{j(j+1)} \delta_{jj'}##

It seems like the right hand side is the magnetic dipole moment. Thus, j must be 0 for a particle with spin =0.

However, I'm not so sure to understand what j means.
I'll try to explain what I understand.
##\vec{J}## is the total angular momentum and ##\vec{J} = \vec{L} + \vec{S}##, where ##\vec{S}## is the spin.
Furthermore, we have 2 systems (2 particles) ##\langle j'|| \vec{J}|| j \rangle = \hbar \sqrt{j(j+1)} \delta_{jj'}##
where ##j_1 = j, j_2 = 1 , m_1 = m, m_2 =0## and ##j = j_1 + j_2, m = m_1 + m_2##

Are ##j_1, j_2## the total angular momentums for each particle and what exactly are ## m_1, m_2##? Are they quantum number ##m_s## ?

If the spin of the particle is null then ##\vec{S} = 0## which mean ##\vec{J} = \vec{L}##

This is all I know. I can't show that j=0.

I hope this is clear...

thank you
Who told you that a spin 0 particle could not have a magnetic moment? It cannot have a spin magnetic moment (intrinsic magnetic moment) but, as you showed above, it can have an orbital magnetic moment.

-Dan
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: hutchphd, happyparticle, PeroK and 2 others
Why exactly it cannot have a spin magnetic moment?

Can I show it from ##
\langle j'|| \vec{J}|| j \rangle = \hbar \sqrt{j(j+1)} \delta_{jj'}
## ?
 
happyparticle said:
Why exactly it cannot have a spin magnetic moment?

Can I show it from ##
\langle j'|| \vec{J}|| j \rangle = \hbar \sqrt{j(j+1)} \delta_{jj'}
## ?
Because s = 0...

-Dan
 
I mean, is it a relationship between s and j ?
 
happyparticle said:
I mean, is it a relationship between s and j ?
## j = l + s##
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: happyparticle and topsquark
happyparticle said:
I mean, is it a relationship between s and j ?
The spin magnetic moment of a particle is given by
##\boldsymbol{ \mu } = g \dfrac{e}{2 m} \textbf{S}##

If s = 0 then ##\boldsymbol{ \mu } \mid \psi \rangle = g \dfrac{e}{2 m} \textbf{S} \mid \psi \rangle = \textbf{0} \mid \psi \rangle##

-Dan
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: happyparticle and DrClaude
Ah I see. I thought that S was the eigenvector and the eigenvalue wasn't necessarily s. thus if s=0 then S wasn't necessarily 0. I think that as usual I had misunderstood.
Thank you
 
happyparticle said:
Ah I see. I thought that S was the eigenvector and the eigenvalue wasn't necessarily s. thus if s=0 then S wasn't necessarily 0. I think that as usual I had misunderstood.
Thank you
I can't make any sense of this. Are you sure you understand the concepts of operators, eigenvectors and eigenvalues.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: malawi_glenn
  • #10
I thought so, but now you make me doubt.
 
  • #11
happyparticle said:
I mean, is it a relationship between s and j ?
You wrote it in the original post
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: topsquark
  • #12
malawi_glenn said:
You wrote it in the original post
I was replying to topsquark. I meant if s = 0 why j is automatically 0, that kind of relation.
 
  • #13
happyparticle said:
I was replying to topsquark. I meant if s = 0 why j is automatically 0, that kind of relation.
I never said j = 0 because s = 0. j = l + s. If s = 0 then j = l. If l is not zero then the state has an angular magnetic moment, just not a spin angular magnetic moment. Only if j = 0 does the state have no angular magnetic moment.

-Dan
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Greg Bernhardt and malawi_glenn
  • #14
happyparticle said:
I would like to know why a particle with spin=0 can't posses a magnetic dipole moment?
When I first saw this question, I thought it was about a free particle with zero spin. Then @happyparticle brought in the Wigner-Eckart theorem stated talking about orbital angular momentum. Orbital angular momentum presupposes a nucleus which the supposedly zero-spin particle must be orbiting. ##\mathbf{S}## as in ##\mathbf{J}=\mathbf{L}+\mathbf{S}## is the total spin in a many-electron atom and ##\mathbf{S}=0## has nothing to do with a particle with spin = 0 in the original question.

I think the simplest answer to the original question is that spin is an intrinsic property of particles and so is the magnetic moment associated with the spin of the particle. Asking why a particle with zero spin has no magnetic moment is like asking why a bald man has no hair on his head.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Haha
Likes   Reactions: hutchphd, gurbir_s, topsquark and 1 other person
  • #15
Tell me. If S=0, in what direction does the magnetic moment point?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: topsquark
  • #16
Vanadium 50 said:
Tell me. If S=0, in what direction does the magnetic moment point?
If a man is bald, what color is his hair?
 
  • Haha
Likes   Reactions: malawi_glenn
  • #17
kuruman said:
If a man is bald, what color is his hair?
Fish.

-Dan
 
  • #18
Something is fishy here. Let's lock the thread for a while until the smell dissipates....
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: phinds, kuruman and topsquark

Similar threads

Replies
0
Views
1K
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
5K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
17
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K