- #1
ModusPwnd
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- 119
Homework Statement
The spin of an electron points along the +x direction.
a)
What is this state in the representation where
[tex]
+z=
\left( {\begin{array}{c}
1 \\
0 \\
\end{array} } \right)
[/tex]
[tex]
-z=
\left( {\begin{array}{c}
0 \\
1 \\
\end{array} } \right)
[/tex]
b)
What is this spin state after its spin has been rotated by an angle [itex] \phi [/itex] about an axis [itex] \hat{n} [/itex]? (The components of [itex]\hat{n}[/itex] are the usual spherical coordinates)
Homework Equations
??
The Attempt at a Solution
a)
I presume it is something along the lines of ,
[tex] \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \left[\left( {\begin{array}{c}
1 \\
0 \\
\end{array} } \right)
\pm i
\left( {\begin{array}{c}
0 \\
1 \\
\end{array} } \right)\right]
[/tex]
But I do not know how to logically come to this conclusion. I don't know whether it is the plus case or the minus case, nor do I know which vector should get the 'i'.
Any ideas?
Thanks!