Published August 30, 2010 | Version v1
Journal article Metadata-only

Time reversal of pseudo-spin 1/2 degrees of freedom

Creators

  • 1. Department of Physics, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115 (United States)
  • 2. Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439 (United States)
  • 3. Institute of Fundamental Sciences and MacDarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Massey University, Manawatu Campus, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442 (New Zealand)
  • 4. Centre for Theoretical Chemistry and Physics, Massey University, Albany Campus, Private Bag 102 904, North Shore MSC, Auckland 0745 (New Zealand)

Description

We show that pseudo-spin 1/2 degrees of freedom can be categorized in two types according to their behavior under time reversal. One type exhibits the properties of ordinary spin whose three Cartesian components are all odd under time reversal. For the second type, only one of the components is odd while the other two are even. We discuss several physical examples for this second type of pseudo-spin and highlight observable consequences that can be used to distinguish it from ordinary spin.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physleta.2010.08.008

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1016/j.physleta.2010.08.008;
arXiv
arXiv:0909.2169v2;
PII
S0375-9601(10)00966-7;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physics Letters. A
Journal Volume
374
Journal Issue
39
Journal Page Range
p. 4003-4006
ISSN
0375-9601
CODEN
PYLAAG

INIS

Country of Publication
Netherlands
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
42043003
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
DEGREES OF FREEDOM; QUANTUM MECHANICS; SPIN; SYMMETRY; TIME DEPENDENCE
Descriptors DEC
ANGULAR MOMENTUM; MECHANICS; PARTICLE PROPERTIES

Optional Information

Copyright
Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.