# Spin operator matrix representations in Sx basis

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

I want to find the matrix representation of the $\hat{S}_x,\hat{S}_y,\hat{S}_z$ and $\hat{S}^2$ operators in the $S_x$ basis (is it more correct to say the $x$ basis, $S_x$ basis or the $\hat{S}_x$ basis?).

2. Relevant equations

$$\hat{S}^2|s,m_s\rangle=s(s+1)\hbar^2|s,m_s\rangle$$ $$\hat{S}_z|s,m_s\rangle=m_s\hbar|s,m_s\rangle$$ $$\hat{S}_x|s,m_s\rangle=\frac{1}{2}(\hat{S}_++\hat{S}_-)|s,m_s\rangle$$ $$\hat{S}_y|s,m_s\rangle=\frac{1}{2i}(\hat{S}_+-\hat{S}_-)|s,m_s\rangle$$ $$\hat{S}_{\pm}|s,m_s\rangle=\sqrt{s(s+1)-m_s(m_s \pm 1)}\hbar|s,m_s \pm 1\rangle$$

3. The attempt at a solution

Finding these in the $S_z$ basis is simple enough. All I need to do is investigate how the basis vectors $\{|\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2}\rangle \equiv |\alpha\rangle, |\frac{1}{2},\frac{-1}{2}\rangle\equiv |\beta\rangle\}$ transform under the action of the operator i wish to represent. Then the columns of the matrix become the image of the basis vectors under the operation. However, I'm not sure what the eigenvectors (basis vectors) of $S_x$ are. On top of that, the actions of the operators i have supplied would no longer apply in a different basis, would they? I would prefer to do it via this method rather than using a similarity transform if possible.

Would I do it by defining the operators as follows?

$$\hat{S}^2|s,m_s\rangle=s(s+1)\hbar^2|s,m_s\rangle$$ $$\hat{S}_x|s,m_s\rangle=m_s\hbar|s,m_s\rangle$$ $$\hat{S}_+=\hat{S}_y+i\hat{S}_z$$ $$\hat{S}_-=\hat{S}_y-i\hat{S}_z$$ Which both imply that: $$\hat{S}_y=\frac{1}{2}(\hat{S}_++\hat{S}_-)$$ $$\hat{S}_z=\frac{1}{2}(\hat{S}_+-\hat{S}_-)$$ And with the basis vectors of $S_y$, $|\alpha\rangle$ and $|\beta\rangle$ defined as before?

The solution is quite simple, and based on 2 observations -

1. You expect the $S_x$ to be diagonal (with appropriate eigenvalues)
2. The commutation relations of spin operators must be preserved (in some books the spin operators are defined by those relations) ($[S_i,S_j]=i\hbar \varepsilon_{ijk}S_k$)

The solution is to make a permutation of the known operators, i.e $S_x \rightarrow S_z$, $S_z \rightarrow S_y$, $S_y \rightarrow S_x$.

$$S_x = {\hbar \over 2}\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & -1\end{pmatrix}$$ $$S_z = {\hbar \over 2}\begin{pmatrix} 0 & -i \\ i & 0\end{pmatrix}$$ $$S_y = {\hbar \over 2}\begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0\end{pmatrix}$$ The $S^2$ operator, being rotationaly invariant (proportional to unit matrix), remains unchanged $$S^2 = {3 \hbar^2 \over 4}\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1\end{pmatrix}$$

Another way to solve this is to look at this as purely algebraic problem - find the unitary matrix which diagonalizes $S_x$ and apply it to all the remaining matrices (changing representation basis of the matrix).

Suppose you have two Stern-Gerlach setups, say, one setup in the X direction, the next in the Z direction, and you send in a stream of unpolarized spins through the first one.

You will see that 50% of them are in the $$|S_x;+\rangle$$ and 50% of are in the $$|S_x;-\rangle$$. If you now block one of the beams and let the other pass through the next, you will see that the outgoing beam has 50% $$|+\rangle$$ and 50% $$|-\rangle$$. (Here I do not write $$S_z$$ as I have written everything in the $$S_z$$ basis.)

You can thus conclude that $$|S_x;+\rangle$$ has an equal mix of $$|+\rangle$$ and $$|-\rangle$$ ($$S_x$$ has an equal probability of being thrown into the $$|+ \rangle$$ or $$|-\rangle$$ states) or in more rigorous terms $$|S_x;+\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \left[ |+\rangle + e^{\iota \delta}|-\rangle \right]$$. The overall phase (with $$\delta$$ real) is immaterial here and thus can be absorbed into any one of the kets.

$$|S_x;-\rangle$$ can then be written from orthogonality considertations.

$$|S_x;-\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \left[ |+\rangle - e^{\iota \delta}|-\rangle \right]$$.

Now for an operator $$\hat{A}$$ with eigenkets $$|a'\rangle$$ and corresponding eigenvalues a', the representation of A is given by $$A = \sum_{a'} a' |a'\rangle \langle a'|$$.

Then it follows for $$S_x$$

$$S_x = \frac{\hbar}{2} \left[\left( |S_x;+\rangle \langle S_x;+|\right) - \left( |S_x;-\rangle \langle S_x;-|\right)\right]$$ $$=\frac{\hbar}{2} \left[ e^{- \iota \delta} \left( |+\rangle \langle -|\right) + e^{\iota \delta} \left(|-\rangle \langle-|\right)\right]$$

Similarly for $$S_y$$,

$$S_y = \frac{\hbar}{2} \left[\left( |S_y;+\rangle \langle S_y;+|\right) - \left( |S_y;-\rangle \langle S_y;-|\right)\right]$$ $$=\frac{\hbar}{2} \left[ e^{- \iota \omega} \left( |+\rangle \langle -|\right) + e^{\iota \omega} \left(|-\rangle \langle-|\right)\right]$$

The real constants $$\delta$$ and $$\omega$$ can be evaulated with a similar experiment consisting of a Stern-Gerlach experiment aligned along X axis followed by one along Y axis. As before, we will see that the second SG apparatus gives out equal counts of $$|S_y;\pm\rangle$$. Or in ket notation, we have,

$$| \langle S_y; \pm|S_x;+\rangle| = | \langle S_y; \pm|S_x;-\rangle| = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$$

Which results in $$\frac{1}{2} \left[1 +\pm e^{\iota (\delta - \omega)}\right] = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$$, or $$\delta$$ - $$\omega$$ = $$\frac{\pi}{2}$$. Conventionally you can chose either one of them to be 0 and the other $$\frac{\pi}{2}$$. Chosing $$\omega = \frac{\pi}{2}$$, we have, $$S_x =\frac{\hbar}{2} \left[ \left( |+\rangle \langle -|\right) + \left(|-\rangle \langle-|\right)\right]$$ and, $$S_y =\frac{\hbar}{2} \left[ \left( -\iota |+\rangle \langle -|\right) + \left(\iota |-\rangle \langle-|\right)\right]$$ in the $$S_z$$ basis.

To change your basis from $$S_z$$ to say $$S_x$$, you can do the same thing (replace $$S_z$$ by $$S_x$$). But as Alexander mentions, you should be careful with the ordering (x $$\rightarrow$$ y $$\rightarrow$$ z) of $$S_x$$, $$S_y$$ and $$S_z$$ because of their non commutativity.

Ref: Modern Quantum Mechanics: J.J. Sakurai