Tagged Questions
2
votes
1answer
96 views
Does the electromagnetic field “spin”?
Due to electron "spin", a small magnetic field is produced. Maxwell's equations imply that magnetic fields are due to changes in electric fields. Is the magnetic field produced then because the ...
9
votes
4answers
456 views
Why is the $S_{z} =0$ state forbidden for photons?
If photons are spin-1 bosons, then doesn't quantum mechanics imply that the allowed values for the z-component of spin (in units of $\hbar$) are -1, 0, and 1?
Why then in practice do we only use the ...
5
votes
1answer
401 views
Why does photon have only two possible eigenvalues of helicity
Photon is a spin-1 particle. Were it massive, its spin projected along some direction would be either 1, -1, or 0. But photons can only be in an eigenstate of $S_z$ with eigenvalue $\pm 1$ (z as the ...
5
votes
3answers
412 views
Can the spin of a photon change during its “life”?
Or is the spin set in one of two possible states at its moment of creation and does not change for the rest of the duration of its "life"?
2
votes
2answers
394 views
Is spin is a conserved entity?
Suppose that an electron with spin up emits a photon in the field of an ion (bremsstrahlung). What is the spin of the emitted photon? Is it correct to say that the photon is circularly polarized if ...
