If photons had S=0, not 1, what changes?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the potential changes that would occur if photons were to have a spin of 0 instead of 1. This would affect the mass and projection of the photon, but would not have an impact on QCD or GR. The conversation also clarifies that photons do not currently have a spin of 0, despite a chart listing them as having a spin of 1.
  • #1
what_are_electrons
If photons have S=0, not 1, what changes?

If photons were realized to have Spin=0, then what would have to change?
 
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  • #2
How about HALF OF THE STANDARD MODEL...??How about ALL ELECTROMAGNETISM AT CLASSICAL LEVEL...??

Daniel.

P.S.I think QCD would be unaffected.Same with GR.
 
  • #3
what_are_electrons said:
If photons were realized to have Spin=0, then what would have to change?

If you accept that photons can have spin 1,0,-1. Then your photon cannot be massless. The fact that a photon has NO spin = 0 has to do with the photonmass being equal to zero.

Keep in mind that those 1,0 and -1 values are not just the spin. They are the projection of the spin onto some axis (like the z-axis). The quantumnumber [tex]s_{z} = (+/-)s, (+/-)s-1, ..., 0[/tex] is the projection of s onto the z-axis.

marlon
 
  • #4
marlon said:
If you accept that photons can have spin 1,0,-1. Then your photon cannot be massless. The fact that a photon has NO spin = 0 has to do with the photonmass being equal to zero.

Keep in mind that those 1,0 and -1 values are not just the spin. They are the projection of the spin onto some axis (like the z-axis). The quantumnumber [tex]s_{z} = (+/-)s, (+/-)s-1, ..., 0[/tex] is the projection of s onto the z-axis.

marlon
If I read correctly, you've written that photons are currently defined to have spin = 0. The nice chart made by the SLAC people list the Photon as having a Spin = 1.
 
  • #5
That's your problem.You didn't read correctly.You interpreted in an incorrect way the words written by Marlon... :rolleyes:

Daniel.
 
  • #6
what_are_electrons said:
If I read correctly, you've written that photons are currently defined to have spin = 0. The nice chart made by the SLAC people list the Photon as having a Spin = 1.


Dextercioby is right. You did not read my post correctly. I said the exact opposite of what you are saying right here. Photons do NOT have spin 0

marlon
 
  • #7
marlon said:
Dextercioby is right. You did not read my post correctly. I said the exact opposite of what you are saying right here. Photons do NOT have spin 0

marlon
That's exactly why I asked for clarification. Thanks.
 

FAQ: If photons had S=0, not 1, what changes?

What is the significance of the spin of a photon?

The spin of a photon is a fundamental property that defines its intrinsic angular momentum. It plays a crucial role in many phenomena, such as polarization, interference, and the quantization of energy levels in atoms.

How does the spin of a photon affect its behavior?

The spin of a photon determines its polarization, which in turn affects its interactions with matter. A photon with spin 1 can have linear or circular polarization, while a hypothetical photon with spin 0 would have no polarization.

How would the properties of light change if photons had S=0 instead of 1?

If photons had S=0, they would have no polarization and would behave differently in certain situations, such as in the presence of magnetic fields. This could also have implications for the nature of light and its interactions with matter.

Is there any evidence to suggest that photons have S=0?

No, there is currently no evidence to suggest that photons have S=0. The spin of a photon has been extensively studied and confirmed to be 1 through various experiments and observations.

What are some potential implications of a photon with S=0?

If a photon with S=0 did exist, it could have significant implications for our understanding of the universe and the laws of physics. It could potentially challenge our current theories and models, and open up new avenues for research and discovery.

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