Why do spin observables Sx, Sy and Sz correspond to different Pauli matrices?

  • Level: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter intervoxel
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    observables Spin
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
Sign up Log in
1 reply · 3K views
intervoxel
Messages
192
Reaction score
1
What is the criterion to define the reference axes, since $S_x$, $S_y$ and $S_z$ correspond to different Pauli matrices?
 
Physics news on Phys.org

Discussion

I found the answer: In the theory the ladder operators are defined as

S_{\pm} \equiv S_x \pm iS_y.

That is, they act on the z direction.
 

Similar threads

Graduate Visualizations of spin observables Sx, Sy, Sz and their relationships
  • TimH
  • · Replies 14 ·
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
14