Physics 481 Recitation Session 1: Constructing Spin Operators

TA: Jeff Schueler

January 20th 2016

Introduction

Welcome to the physics 481 recitation session! The goal of these sessions is to provide students a setting
where they can work in groups to discuss how to work through problems. Since this is the first time
recitation sessions are being offered in upper division courses at UHM, the format of these recitation
sessions is subject to change. Your feedback is also much appreciated, as it will give me a better idea as
to how to best use our time. Please bring your textbook with you to all recitation sessions, as it
may come in handy!
For today, our topic of interest is the construction of spin operators. According to Dr. Vahsen, you
have seen the construction of S 2 , Sx , Sy , Sz , and ladder operators S for spin-1/2 particles in lecture, so
we will begin with the construction of the S 2 and Sz operators for spin 1 particles. The actual problems
begin in section 2 (at the bottom half of page 2), so you may start those whenever you feel
ready. Below is a more detailed outline of how to construct S 2 and Sz matrices than what is provided in
Griffiths.

1.1

A guide for constructing spin matrices for s = 1/2

Given a spin state |s, ms i, we take the following relations to be true for all allowed values of s and ms :

S 2 |s, ms i = s(s + 1)~2 |s, ms i

S |s, ms i =

Sz |s, ms i = ms ~ |s, ms i

p
s(s + 1) m(m 1)~ |s, ms 1i

(1)

With these three relationships at our disposal, we can construct matrix operators for S 2 , Sx , Sy , Sz ,
and S for any value of s! Lets start with a brief summary of the construction of the spin-1/2 matrices,
then you guys will construct the operators for spin-1, and if time allows, spin-3/2.

1.2

Spin-1/2 S 2 matrix


The matrix elements for the S 2 operator are given by s0 , m0  S 2 s, m . When computing these matrix
elements for spin-1/2 particles, we note that s = 1/2 always, and the allowed values for ms are +1/2 and
1/2. Given this, we see that there are four possible combinations of s and ms , leading to four martrix
elements, i.e., a 2 2 matrix. Computing the individual matrix elements in the most general case will give


0 0 2 



s , m  S s, m = s(s + 1)~2 s0 , m0  s, m
= s(s + 1)~2 ss0 mm0
The Kronecker delta symbols are a result of the hs0 , m0 | s, mi states being orthonormal. The symbols also
tell us that s and s0 must always be equal and m and m0 must also always be equal, which tells us that
the only nonzero elements of the S 2 matrix for any value of spin s are the diagonal elements. For s = 1/2,
we find
 



1/2, m0  S 2 1/2, m = 1(1 + 1)~2 1/2, m0  1/2, m
(2)
= 2~2 mm0
1

(3)

(2) tells us that we can write out our S 2 matrix comprised of the four S 2 matrix elements as


h1/2, m0 = 1/2| 1/2, m = 1/2i
h1/2, m0 = 1/2| 1/2, m = 1/2i
,
S 2 = 2~2
h1/2, m0 = 1/2| 1/2, m = 1/2i h1/2, m0 = 1/2| 1/2, m = 1/2i
where it is to be understood that s = s0 = 1/2 for each of the four matrix elements. (3) tells us that all of
the components with m0 6= m will vanish, and all of the components with m0 = m will equal 1 (due to the
orthonormality of the spin states), thus


2
2 1 0
.
(4)
S = 2~
0 1

1.3

Sz for s = 1/2

Following the procedure of the S 2 operator, we can construct the matrix elements for Sz as follows:




0 0 
s , m  Sz s, m = m~ s0 , m0  s, m
= m~ss0 mm0
For s = 1/2, we know that the only allowed values for m are 1/2, so:
~
2
=0

h1/2, 1/2| Sz |1/2, 1/2i = m~mm0 =

h1/2, 1/2| Sz |1/2, 1/2i = m~mm0

h1/2, 1/2| Sz |1/2, 1/2i = m~mm0 = 0

~
h1/2, 1/2| Sz |1/2, 1/2i = m~mm0 = .
2
Substituting these four elements into Sz gives us
~
Sz =
2



1 0
.
0 1

(5)

The construction of the remaining spin-1/2 matrices are described in sufficient detail in Griffiths pages 173
and 174, so I will not go through those details here.

Construction of Spin 1 Operators

In the space below, work together with your group to answer the following questions. I will walk around
to check on your progress. Please collaborate with and bounce ideas off of each other! For all questions in
this section, we will be assuming s = 1.
1. What are the allowed values of ms ? (Hint: There are 3)

2. What should be the dimensions of all of the spin-1 matrices?

3. Using the fact that Sz |s, ms i = ms ~ |s, ms i, construct the matrix operator for Sz .

(More space for work)

4. Using the fact that S 2 |s, ms i = s(s + 1)~2 |s, ms i, construct the matrix operator for S 2 .

5. Write out the spinors for the three spin-1 states |1, 1i, |1, 0i, and |1, 1i.

6. (Optional, as this is already assigned for homework) Construct the matrices for Sx and Sy . Hint:
Proceeding as is done in Griffiths pages 173-174 will be most helpful here: First construct the S+ and
S matrices by letting them act on the three spinors you wrote out in question 5 (equation (1) on the
first page gives you the eigenstates and eigenvalues of S acting on a given spin ket). Once S+ and S
are constructed, you know (or can easily check) that Sx = (S+ + S )/2 and Sy = (S+ S )/2i.

Construction of Spin 3/2 Operators

1 What are the allowed values of ms ? (Hint: There are 4)

2 Write out the spinors (and all of the kets in the form of |s, ms i) for the four spin-3/2 states.

3 What should be the dimensions of all of the spin-3/2 matrices?

4 Using the fact that Sz |s, ms i = ms ~ |s, ms i, construct the matrix operator for Sz .

5 Using the fact that S 2 |s, ms i = s(s + 1)~2 |s, ms i, construct the matrix operator for S 2 .

6 Construct the matrices for Sx and Sy (You may need to attach a separate sheet of work for this one. If
time allows, we will go over a general outline of solving this problem as a class.)