Are there any regulating condition on the spin of particle?

In summary, there are regulating conditions such as the quantization of angular momentum that explain why the spin of particles like electrons and photons are specific numbers (1/2 and 1, respectively). There is also a relationship between symmetry (such as Lorentz symmetry) and the quantization of energy, which is explained through the irreducible unitary representation of the Poincare group. Further information can be found in sources such as the thread on Physics Forums and the book "The quantum theory of fields".
  • #1
ndung200790
519
0
Please teach me this:
Are there any regulating limit on spin of particle?.E.g why spin of electron is 1/2 but not 3/2,spin of photon is 1 but not 2 e.t.c
Thank you very much in advance.
 
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  • #2
Currently, what is assumed is that an electron's spin is an intrinsic property. That it originates from the angular momentum of the particle.

In quantum mechanics, angular momentum is quantized (meaning that it is not only comprised of energy but also of particles). Since physical particles are enabling this spin to occur, there should be a countable, finite number of them. Perhaps that explains why the numbers are finite ratios of integers, and not weird repeating decimals.

I cannot answer WHY every particle has some intrinsic angular momentum (probably due to the conditions under which it was formed).

One of the "regulating conditions" you ask about is most likely the quantization of angular momentum. Generally when you think of angular momentum, you think of some kind of energetic value, not chunks of matter that are rotating the object in question around.
If you want to know why angular momentum is quantized, you can refer to this thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=194897

This is a good source to read further: http://www.electronspin.org/
Also, this Wikipedia page explains how in relatively simple terms (but not why): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spin_(physics )
 
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  • #3
So,are there any relations between symmetry(e.g Lorentz symmetry) and quantization of energy(because we think of angular momentum as some kind of energy)?
 
  • #4
Are there any general transformation of spinor(or field operator of high spin particles) under Lorentz symmetry?
 
  • #5
gluefish said:
I cannot answer WHY every particle has some intrinsic angular momentum (probably due to the conditions under which it was formed).

Because it is part of the defining conditions. If one observes a particle with different quantum numbers (mass, spin, and charges) from one of the standard ones, one concludes that it is not one of the standard particles.
 
  • #6
ndung200790 said:
Are there any general transformation of spinor (or field operator of high spin particles) under Lorentz symmetry?

Yes. To each valuie of mass (m>=0) and spin (s=0,1/2, 1,...), there is a corresponding irreducible unitary representation of the Poincare group, which defines this transformation behavior. This is explained in detail in Chapter 2 of Vol. 1 of Weinberg's book ''The quantum theory of fields'' for particles, and in Chapter 6 for the corresponding field operators.
 

FAQ: Are there any regulating condition on the spin of particle?

What is spin in particle physics?

Spin is an intrinsic property of particles in quantum mechanics that describes their angular momentum. It is a fundamental property of particles, much like mass and charge, and is quantized in discrete values.

Are there any particles that do not have spin?

No, all known particles in the Standard Model of particle physics have spin. Even particles that were originally thought to be spinless, such as the photon, have been found to have spin.

What are the possible values of spin for a particle?

The possible values of spin for a particle are determined by its spin quantum number, which can be either integer or half-integer values. Particles with integer spin are called bosons and those with half-integer spin are called fermions.

How does spin affect the behavior of particles?

The spin of particles affects their interactions with other particles and their behavior in magnetic fields. For example, particles with half-integer spin follow the Pauli exclusion principle, which states that no two particles can occupy the same quantum state.

Are there any restrictions on the spin of particles?

Yes, there are some restrictions on the spin of particles. For example, fermions can only have half-integer values of spin, while bosons can only have integer values. Additionally, the spin of a particle can only change by increments of one when it interacts with other particles.

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