0
$\begingroup$

We say that an electron has a dipole moment (let's arbitrarily focus on magnetic dipole moment), which we can calculate classically and also add quantum corrections. Suppose we measure the electron's spin projection. The way we interpret the setup is that we can now calculate the magnetic field generated by the dipole moment.

Does this picture still make sense in QFT? I'm used to think about these things in terms of interactions, Feynman diagrams etc. and less in terms of field configurations. Here's my concrete question:

Will the presence of some exictation in the electron field (i.e. particle), having measured its spin projection, induce a well determined photon field strength?

Somehow I'm less inclined to think that, and more inclined into thinking that you will only increase the probability of interacting with the photon field in a particular way and perhaps emit photon in particular directions.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ It will make sense to think about the magnetic dipole as an intrinsic property and the spin als a consequence. If you are new enough to physics study may be you are able to see the advantages: the explanation for the gyroscope effect, the orientations of the electrons around the nucleus, the reason for the Lorentz force. The magnetic dipole and the spin are always parallel or antiparallel. In a way they are synonyms. $\endgroup$
    – HolgerFiedler
    Commented Jul 18, 2019 at 4:14
  • $\begingroup$ Too bad I can't downvote comments $\endgroup$
    – octonion
    Commented Jul 22, 2019 at 20:27

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1
$\begingroup$

Yes, there should be a measurable magnetic field. Consider the expectation value of the magnetic field between one-electron states (with some given spin and momentum) $\langle e^-|\vec{q}\times\vec{A}(q)|e^-\rangle$. Through the LSZ formula this is related to the vacuum expectation value of the $A$ field and two electron fields.

But calculating this vacuum expectation value amounts to calculating Feynman diagrams associated to the vertex function (diagrams with two external electron lines, one external photon line, and as many loops as you want). The vertex funtion is exactly how textbooks do calculate the magnetic moment in QFT.

So to work out the details is a bit of an exercise, but you should be able to find the expectation value of the magnetic field in the background of an electron with spin using standard QFT techniques.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.