Are Spin and Quantum States Independent in Wave Functions?

In summary, the wave function of an electron is expressed as ψ_{n,σ} (x,ζ) where n represents the orbital quantum number and σ represents the spin quantum number. σ can have two values, spin up or down, while x represents space position and ζ represents spin up or down. However, it is incorrect to have both σ and ζ related to spin up and down simultaneously. The spin character of the wave function appears only as a counting label on ψ, and mathematically, ψ is a mapping from R3 to \otimes_{\sigma} L^2 (R^3). This concept is also supported by the book "Nanostructures; Theory and modeling" by C
  • #1
hokhani
483
8
When we speak about wave function of an electron, we write it as ψ[itex]_{n,σ}[/itex] (x,ζ) so that we specify here the orbital quantum number by n and spin quantum number by σ. σ can take two values according to spin up or down. x is space position and ζ has two discrete values related to spin up and down.
Now my question:
Is it possible to have σ related to spin up and ζ related to spin down simultaneously? In other words are σ and ζ independent (like n and x that are independent)?
 
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  • #2
It's not correct, there's only a continuous (space, momentum, space-time, momentum-time) functional dependence of the electron/spin σ particle. * The "ζ" should be deleted, the spin character of the wavefunction appears only as a counting label on ψ, just like other labels (total angular momentum, electric charge, parity).

* Mathematically speaking ψ is a mapping from R3 (disregard time) to [itex] \otimes_{\sigma} L^2 (R^3) [/itex], where sigma takes 2s+1 = 2 (s=1/2) values in the Pauli theory and 2(2s+1) =4 (again s=1/2) values in the Dirac theory.
 
  • #3
Thanks Mr/Mis Kurt Lewin
I agree, but there is such a statement in the book "Nanostructures; Theory and modeling" by C. Delerue & M. Lannoo, chapter1, formula (1.6), that had made me confused.
 
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Related to Are Spin and Quantum States Independent in Wave Functions?

1. What is spin in quantum mechanics?

Spin is a fundamental property of particles in the quantum world, just like mass and charge. It describes the intrinsic angular momentum of a particle, and can have values of 0, 1/2, 1, 3/2, etc. Spin is a quantum property, meaning it can only take on discrete values and cannot be continuously varied.

2. What is the difference between classical and quantum spin?

Classical spin refers to the angular momentum of a macroscopic object rotating around an axis. In quantum mechanics, spin is a fundamental property of particles and does not require any physical rotation. Additionally, classical spin can take on any value, while quantum spin is quantized and can only have certain discrete values.

3. How does spin affect the behavior of particles?

The spin of a particle can affect how it interacts with other particles and fields. For example, particles with spin 1/2, such as electrons, can have two different spin states (up and down) and can interact with magnetic fields. This makes spin an important factor in understanding the behavior of particles in the quantum world.

4. Can particles have both spin up and spin down at the same time?

According to the principles of quantum mechanics, particles can exist in a superposition of multiple states at the same time. This means that a particle can have a spin state that is a combination of both spin up and spin down. However, when the particle is measured, it will collapse to one of the two spin states.

5. How is spin related to quantum entanglement?

Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon in which two particles become intrinsically linked and their properties become correlated. Spin is one of the properties that can become entangled between two particles, meaning that the spin state of one particle will affect the spin state of the other, even when they are separated by large distances.

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