Consider parity then it is no longer enough to talk about two spinors

In summary, parity is a concept in physics that describes the symmetry of a system under spatial inversion. It is important to consider parity when working with spinors, as they can have positive or negative parity and their interaction can affect the overall system. Considering parity can change the way we talk about spinors and is crucial in accurately describing and predicting the behavior of particles and systems. It also plays a significant role in important physical theories and experiments, such as the Standard Model.
  • #1
depressedmath
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Ryder in chapter two of his book says that if we consider parity then it is no longer enough to talk about two spinors and so he introduces 4 spinors. Is there some postulate of Quantum physics that has to do with state trasformation under parity??
 
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  • #2


Srednicki's book (available free online, google to find it) goes into great detail on the properties of two- and four-component spinors, including parity transformations.
 
  • #3


Yes, there is a postulate in quantum physics called the parity transformation postulate which states that the state of a quantum system should remain unchanged under a parity transformation. This means that if the system is reflected in a mirror, the state should remain the same. This postulate is closely related to the concept of parity in particle physics, which refers to the symmetry between particles and their mirror images. In order to describe this symmetry mathematically, four spinors are needed instead of two, as parity transformation involves both the spatial and spin components of a particle's wave function. This is why Ryder introduces four spinors when discussing parity in his book.
 

Related to Consider parity then it is no longer enough to talk about two spinors

1. What is parity?

Parity is a fundamental concept in physics that refers to the symmetry of a physical system under spatial inversion. In other words, it describes whether a system remains unchanged when its spatial coordinates are inverted or flipped.

2. How does parity relate to spinors?

In physics, spinors are mathematical objects used to describe the spin state of particles. When considering parity, it is important to note that spinors can have either positive or negative parity, which determines how they transform under spatial inversion.

3. Why is it not enough to talk about two spinors when considering parity?

When considering parity, it is important to also consider the interaction between two spinors. This interaction can result in a combined spinor state that cannot be described by just the two individual spinors, making it necessary to take into account the combined system.

4. How does considering parity change the way we talk about spinors?

When considering parity, we must take into account the transformation properties of spinors under spatial inversion. This means that we need to use different mathematical expressions and equations to accurately describe spinor systems under parity.

5. Why is understanding parity important in physics?

Understanding parity is crucial in physics because it allows us to accurately describe and predict the behavior of particles and systems under spatial inversion. It also plays a significant role in many important physical theories and experiments, such as the Standard Model of particle physics.

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