Symmetry in Pair Production and The Importance of Quantum Spin in Particle Formation

By Charles A. Laster An elementary vector examination of pair-production can be useful in studying the symmetry of particles and pair-production. In addition the importance of quantum spin is seen with vectors as well as some of the properties of particles are determined by the vector components of quantum spin. Such topics as quantum spin and spinors must be represented, by breaking them into their vector components for this examination. The role of the magnetic moment, and how the vacuum and source fields fit into the process of particle creation are also examined. The model used in this paper is as basic as possible and starts with few assumptions. The representation of the vacuum and source field given by this vector model can be easily understood by students and the "virtual" particles of the vacuum are clearly expressed. The importance of quantum spin vectors in symmetry become clearly evident as does its role in the polarization of the vacuum. The polarization of the vacuum proposed by Maxwell also plays a role in pair-production. An added bonus is that a number of electron models can be examined within the scope of the paper if desired. Thus this basic vector method can prove useful in examining specific electron models. This vector model of particle formation can be a useful teaching tool for undergraduates while providing serious researchers another tool in examining symmetry and particle formation. Introduction The Dirac equation lies at the heart of physics and describes pair-production. Despite its long history, the interpretation is not straight forward and beyond the grasp of many who would like to know more about physics. Pair-production, and symmetry in particles is a subject of much interest and a number of papers have been written on the subject, it is no easy task to add to this body of knowledge. There have been some noteworthy attempts to simplify this popular topic for undergraduates. Feynman Diagrams for Beginners [1] examines the Dirac equation and was meant to be part of a QED introductory course. The similarity between Feynman diagrams and vectors makes them a concept that is easy to grasp. Complex four-vectors and the Dirac equation uses the vector math of Clifford algebra to examine the Dirac equation and offers some new perspectives. It also suggested that a purely vector approach to pair-production as a possibility that likewise might offer some new perspective on the subject. This elementary examination of pair-production and particles is written at and intended for undergraduate level, it does provide a unique view that highlights symmetry and the importance of quantum spin vectors.

Quantum Spin One of the first problems Dirac had to overcome was the discovery of Quantum Spin by Wolfgang Pauli in 1924 and introduced what he called a "two-valued quantum degree of freedom". This quantum mechanical spin has not described by vectors as in classical manner, but by spinors. A spinor and a vector behave differently under coordinate rotations. If you rotate a 1/2 spin particle by only 360 degrees, it does not return to its starting position, but to the opposite quantum phase. To return the particle to its exact original state, two full rotations, or 720 degrees is needed. For a spherical object, one vector is on the y plane, equator, and the vector F is in the +z or z direction. This is the classical spin, and as it is used as a reference, we will call primary spin. Quantum spin is represented by another vector with rotation in the x plane. Blue = Primary classical spin Green = Quantum 1/2 spin

Put a dot on the equator, y axis, at the tip of the arrow as the starting point. in one 360 degree revolution it will return to its starting point. The spin on the x axis is moving at 1/2 the speed of the primary spin, so a dot at the North pole only makes it to the south pole in the same amount of time. To return the particle to its exact original state, both dots in the same spot, two full rotations, or 720 degrees is needed. However the dots we imagine on the surface do not travel a straight line due to the complex spin, but rather follow a curved or wavy path around the globe. To track this over time using vectors would be very time consuming. So quantum spin can be represented in a geometrical vector manner that is not efficient mathematically as matrices and spinors, but give an good visual representation that can be grasped intuitively. One paper that does this is Spin, Charge and the Fine-Structure Constant which develops a Feynman Diagram like vector notation for the spin and charge of particles [3]. This approach of treating quantum spin and charge as a vector has worked well in the "Golden FaTe" string theory being developed by the "String Theory Development group. In it a string can be

given a twist with a single vector, or a complex twist. This has allowed the developing string theory to predict the observed leptons [4]. The Dirac equation also produced a negative energy solution when the EM field was taken into account. When Clifford algebra was applied to the Dirac equation, a second axis of rotation appears in the matrix when the EM field is taken into account as well [2]. This second axis of rotation is hid with the normal matrix used by Dirac and most papers on pair-production. Spin and the Magnetic Moment The magnetic moment can be defined by different methods. In older textbooks the example using a bar magnet. The magnetic moment is equal to the force between the poles, but reversed as if this force was keeping the poles apart and the real magnet was not there. So this force depends on two factors: one on the strength p of its poles, and on the vector l of the distance separating them. The moment is defined as =pxl It points from South to North pole, and obeys the right hand rule for the direction of the magnetic-field. Not a very eloquent description and today the "Current Loop" definition is commonly used. Place a closed loop carrying an electric current I and a vector area S. Its magnetic moment , is defined as: = I x S Here is a graph of the electron and positron's magnetic moment using the current loop definition. In addition to the above terms, the vector P is added show the primary spin of the charge in relation to current flow. Electron Magnetic Moment Right Hand Rule Positron Magnetic Moment Left Hand Rule

Both definitions are useful in this paper to avoid confusion. Dot and cross vector products do not have a radius defined and works best with the magnet definition. The current loop definition is used for particles as both will overlap in particle formation, and this choice makes the graphing much clearer. The Dirac Sea and its relation to the Vacuum and Source Field

The "Dirac Sea" was how the existence of the positron could be explained. Today, Dirac's view of a sea of invisible particles that can pop into our reality sounds a little silly and simplistic but the underlying concepts are still used. In condensed matter physics the Fermi sea, the virtual particles of quantum theory, the color of quarks in QCD and the Bogoliubov transformation of QFT can be considered functionally equivalent to concepts of the Dirac sea. Even the Golden FaTe string theory has the equivalent concept, as Mark Aaron Simpson said "Our model describes space as a vast continuous opportunity of singularities (particles)" [4]. In this paper the vacuum will be modeled as a perfect liquid or gas depending on density. This approach is nothing new and has been used since the earliest days of the Big Bang theory till now and by the author in other work [5]. Now Dirac started with a complete electron equation that described the complex quantum wave structure of the electron and worked backwards from it. In section 3.2, Plane wave solutions, of the paper Complex four-vectors and the Dirac equation, it shows that a plane wave solution would work, as a small section of any spherical wave can be considered a plane wave at distance from its origin [2]. This approach using plane waves for the source field will greatly simplify the use of vectors in pair-production. "Virtual" Pair-production with Vectors The intersection of two plane waves moving at the speed of light, with the vectors denoting direction opposed 90 degrees, is examined. Plane wave A is on the (x,z) plane and moving in the vector a direction. Plane wave B is on the (x,y) plane and moving in the vector b direction. Both also have a given intensity based on the Density of the vacuum energy. The vector diagram to one side shows the vector cross product of the two plane waves.

The cross product, denoted a x b, is a vector perpendicular to both a and b and is defined as a x b = ||a|| ||b|| sin () n Where is the measure of the angle between a and b, and n is a unit vector perpendicular to both a and b, and which obeys the right-hand rule. There is also a solution for - n which obeys the lefthand rule. The two solutions for n are known a Pseudo-vectors. The distinction between vectors and pseudo-vectors is often ignored, but it becomes important in studying symmetry, which is needed in examination in the pair-production process. This relationship where vectors a x b = n, with right and left-handed solutions is the same relationship we see in the magnetic moment of the electron using the right-hand rule, and a negative solution for the positron using the left-hand rule. Premise: That a force, the vector cross product, obeying the right and left-hand rule, the same as the magnetic moment in particles and anti-particles, could induce a polarization of the vacuum energy (create a magnetic moment) and play a role in particle formation. Researchers have induced a magnetic moment in neutral atoms using lasers to induce a spin [6]. The concept of polarization of the vacuum by a vector field that gives the density of a permanent or induced electric dipole moment is a critical part of the work by Maxwell on electromagnetism. On the following site is a video on YouTube that shows the Polarization of charged particles by right and left handed spin in a perfect fluid called a Hot Quark Soup, made at RHIC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXy5EvYu3fw&feature=player_embedded

I placed the graphics of the electron and positron magnetic moments next to the vector diagram. Note that with the positron upside down, the vectors for the magnetic moment are aligned with the vector cross product, and that the flow of current for both magnetic moments are flowing in the same counter-clockwise direction. The pseudo-vectors in effect create a pseudo-magnet that particles. The pseudo-magnet sets up the electromagnetic field for the flow of current as it climbs in intensity from 0 to maximum as Maxwell suggested. When the current begins to flow, it causes the polarized vacuum energy to acquire a physical spin. The spin induced on the charge by current helps to contain the charge of a particle. If there is sufficient energy for particle formation that is. Without the required energy for particle formation the forces from intersecting waves are just pseudo-particles. They have everything in place except the last ingredient, energy/mass. As the vacuum is filled with intersecting waves, there is a virtual sea of these pseudo-particles. They have no physical or quantum spin, no mass or charge to speak of. Particles of any quantum spin might arise from them depending on the energy density and the quantum spin vectors of the waves. Dirac Equation or Electron Model of Choice Even the Clifford algebra approach started with the complex quantum spin as part of the plane wave, but this paper did not set such complex starting conditions. It is best to start with as few assumptions as possible in any model, and complex spin could arise as part of the pair-production process. As a result the pseudo-particles does not have quantum spin. But that could arise at several points in the formation of real particles. The flow of current in the plane wave may induce or modify the quantum spin as the sphere is formed from the plane wave. Or the spin may be induced at the time

when the two south poles of the electric magnetic moment kicks them apart (as described in the next section). The force is inducing rotation from the pole, the right vector direction for quantum spin. It light of these variables, not setting starting conditions for quantum spin seemed the best approach. At this point one can pick the electron model of their choosing and try to see how it could form from this process of twisting a plane wave into a particle. The Dirac equation which assumes complex spin vectors on the plane wave as in the Clifford algebra approach to the Dirac equation [2] could be used to get the Dirac electron. Ring, torus, and other electron models could be used. For example the author [7] and the Golden FaTe [4] string theory both used a standing wave for particles that employed a "double solution" for particles. So this approach is compatible with various electron models. Real Pair-production If there is sufficient energy, real particles can arise from these pseudo-particles. When this happens each of the two particles will develop real spin, and generate their own real magnetic moment, which brings an added force to the picture.

I placed the magnetic moments to the side of the vector for clarity in the first diagram, but the second one is more accurate. When they develop their own electric magnetic moment, separate from the pseudo-magnet magnetic moment of the vector force, due to the symmetry of formation, the South poles of both are nearly touching. This provides the final force needed to separate them and why when electron/positron pairs first appear, they are spiraling away from each other, despite their opposite charges. Everything revolves around the pseudo-magnet magnetic moment, which creates real particle magnetic moments. This model can be applied to other 1/2 spin particles like quarks, but what about

the Neutrino? Neutrino The neutrino was first predicted by Pauli in the process called beta decay, and that is an excellent example to use. In Beta decay a neutron turns into a proton and an electron and an antineutrino are produced.

A down quark with a -1/3 charge decays and up quark pair production occurs within a composite particle. The polarization for up quarks would be +2/3 and -2/3, however there is an additional -1/3 charge contributed from the decaying down quark available. The up quark with a +2/3 charge is stable and converts the neutron into a proton. However its partner has too much charge to form an anti-up quark. It either fails to form or immediately decays and pair-production occurs again. There is an excess of -1 charge and the available positive charge has just been used for the up quark. A positron can't form, but a neutral left-handed particle can.

Neutrino's don't form under normal pair-production, but under special circumstances they can form in the process of pair-production when one particle of the pair fails to form due to insufficient charge. The small observed mass of the neutrino comes from the non-polarized vacuum energy that was trapped during formation instead of charge polarized vacuum energy. Now the neutrino represented here is formed on the side of the vector cross product that follows the left-handed rule. All of the neutrinos we have recorded have been left-handed. This electron/neutrino pair-production would also apply to the muon/neutrino and the tau/neutrino as well.

Right-handed or anti-neutrino's are theoretically possible as well, but have not been observed. This may be due to the difficulties in distinguishing between left and right-handed neutrino's. Their high speed, low mass, and virtually undetectable magnetic moment, if it has one at all, has made this task impossible so far. There was even a theory that the photon was composed of a neutrino/anti-neutrino pair, known as the Neutrino Theory of Light. The theory held a lot of promise at one time as it satisfies Maxwell's equations. The lack of right-handed neutrino's and because no mass-less neutrino's have ever been found, the theory has been discredited. But that does bring the discussion to the next topic, the photon. The Photon Maxwell's equation describes the photons electromagnetic nature and its wave like form. Yet within its requirements, a number of models like the neutrino theory of light are possible. This vector force model can also be applied to the photon and remain within the requirements set by Maxwell. Note in the graph that two full amplitudes with reversed polarity that are within a single wavelength of the photon.

Now when 1/2 spin particles was examined, a "Double Solution" where two spherical standing waves was mentioned. One of the waves is the extended waveform normally applied to the electron, and the other wave reduced in amplitude, 1/137 of the extended wavelength and forming the point particle aspect due to mass and charge. [7]. The photon has no mass and both waves have the same amplitude as in a normal standing wave. So a "Double Solution" standing wave where the amplitude of each wave is equal to will work if polarization can be accounted for. The photon is a spin 1 particle so both quantum spin and classical spin are the same magnitude. QM states that quantum spin is an intrinsic property of particles. When the waveform collapses to a point particle all other vector forces cancel out, only the quantum spin vectors remain. If one of the two waves had its quantum spin in the opposite direction to the other wave, this changes the symmetry of the vector cross product, right and left handed sides are switched as well as polarity.

Unlike the example with plane waves where the pseudo-magnet was in a steady state, this pseudo-magnet is in existence only briefly. Maxwell showed that polarization of the vacuum happened over a finite amount of time. The separation of charge by polarization and its return to a neutral state is a simple harmonic motion. The force separates and/or creates and separates charge, and then returns to a state of equilibrium, and polarized again in the opposite direction.

Thus the EM wave produced by the pseudo-magnet takes the above form over time. This approach of a particle standing wave that accounts for quantum spin also solves one of the classical problems with the photon. Bohr had a problem in his early atomic model when the electron emitted or received a photon and its resultant change in orbit, energy conservation was not preserved, something was missing. Bohr and Kramer tried to correct this with BKS theory, but could not. Bohr gave up on the problem and embraced the emerging field of quantum mechanics where this problem could be circumvented. Born and Jordan was also working on this classical problem in BKS theory. They found that energy conservation could be achieved during a quantum jump if a scalar waveform was emitted at the same time as the EM wave p 105 - 106 [8]. Born and Jordan sent Bohr a letter to that effect, but Bohr had already given up on BKS and any hope of a classical understanding of the atom. Now the spherical standing wave needs to be mapped over the graph of the EM wave. The node of each spherical waves node matches up with every other node of the EM wave. The two spherical waves are out of phase, one at full amplitude when the other is at minimum, but traveling at the speed

of light means two two waves no longer occupy the exact same region of space, but are offset by the movement of the photon.

This explains most of the properties of the photon. It gives a true 90 degree polarization to the direction of travel. Now examine polarization from a head on view. The pseudo-magnet caused by the cross product is a straight line force vector, but from this direction the poles could have a number of orientations. Generally we simplify this to having either a horizontal or vertical polarization.

There is one other factor that might affect polarization. So far this model of the photon has only looked at the interaction of the photon waves with the vacuum, but the source field may also affect polarization. As examined in the section on pair-production, source waves fill the vacuum. The same particle that emits a photon also emits a source wave with every oscillation that travels at the speed of light away from the particle as well. The photon can be thought of as "riding" a source wave from the particle that emitted it.

If the source wave from the particle has complex spin vectors, they would modify the orientation of the polarization. So the initial polarization of a photon would be affected by the particle which emitted it. Of course that polarization can change over the course of the photons journey. An electromagnetic wave like the photon can be created by a rotating dipole like the electron's

magnetic moment. If we envision the quantum spin, which in the vector model had a polar orientation, as also spinning of the poles of the magnetic moment, a "virtual photon" would be created with every complete 720 degree spin. This vector model also shows that the point particle of an electron would have to be in the direct path of a photon to absorb it, and at the node of the photons wavelength as well. So while the larger photon waveform may encompass a number of electrons, only one can absorb it. That brings to a close a basic examination of the vector forces at work in the photon and can be applied to spin 1 particles. Next on the list, 0 spin particles. Spin 0 Particles The zero spin particles are perhaps the easiest to understand as they are the closest thing to a classical standing wave in particle physics. No mass, charge or quantum spin. Without complex spin, they do not create a cross vector product, so no polarization or EM forces either. It is simply a packet of wave energy going from one spot to another. An efficient means of transferring energy/force over distance. As such spin 0 particles can not be examined within the scope of this model. The theoretical Higgs Boson is a 0 spin particle. Super-symmetric theories predict more such particles like sleptons, sneutrino, squarks, axino, saxion, dilaton, majoron, and the radion. More theoretical particles of other quantum spins are possible, like the Spin 2 Graviton, and which like the other theoretical particles just mentioned, has not been observed. Time Time has not been mentioned much so far for several reasons. Philosophically time for a particle does not begin for it till the particle is created, just as time did not exist for the universe till it was created in the Big Bang. A vector cross product is a 3-dimensional phenomenon, it is also possible in the 7th dimension in multidimensional theories. Time is often treated differently in multidimensional models, so it did not seem necessary to include time at the start, but only when needed, starting at the moment of particle formation when an electron equation can be derived with time included, as a particle can only have a frequency once created, and frequency can be considered the internal clock of the particle. Prior work by the author [3] and the Golden FaTe string theory [4] showed a vector model would work with good or better results than a completely time dependent model of particle formation in both string and quantum approaches. While time may not exist for the particle till it is created, it does exist for an independent observer observing the process of pair-production. The orientation of the plane waves in this paper were chosen to reduce the effects of time as

much as possible. The point of intersection of the two waves would travel in a vector a + b with the waves, creating a stable system over time to examine. If the two waves meet head on at 180 degrees, the effects of time would be maximized and the pseudo-particle will exist only briefly. The intensity of a wave does not hit all at once. It goes from a value of 0 to maximum intensity and back to 0. Polarization takes a small amount of time, as Maxwell suggested. Due to the rapid expansion and contraction of the EM field during this time, simulating the movement of a standing wave, this type of wave interaction may be more conducive to pair-production. Note: Two simple scalar waves 180 degrees opposed cancel each other out. The plane waves must have complex quantum spin vectors in addition to the scalar direction to form a cross product [2]. Conclusions The discovery of quantum spin as provoked a lot of thought since its discovery. Spin is deeply connected to the study of symmetry in particles. This vector examination of 1/2 spin particles and the photon offers another view in that study of symmetry. Right and left-handedness are also aspects of symmetry in particles that a vector approach can help make its role in symmetry clearer. The symmetry of charge is likewise seen in this vector examination of particle creation. While the symmetry of charge in particle and anti-particle formation is evident, the positron is not an electron going backwards in time, as in the Dirac equation. That conclusion seems to be the result of Dirac working backwards from a time dependent equation. Otherwise all the aspects of particle formation are consistent with Dirac's work. The interesting aspect of this model is that the polarization of the vacuum proposed by Maxwell plays a role in particle formation as well. References [1] Kresimir Kumericki Feynman Diagrams for Beginners University of Zagreb, Adriatic School on Particle Physics and Physics Informatics Split, Croatia 11, September 2001 updated October 15, 2002 http://www.scribd.com/doc/58775982/Simplified-Feynman-Diagrams [2] Jonathan Scott Complex four-vectors and the Dirac equation (June 1, 1999) 32 Pennard Way, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Hants SO53 4NJ, United Kingdom http://www.scribd.com/doc/57249529/Dirac-Eqn-Easiest-Form [3] Charles Laster (June 6, 2011) Spin, Charge and the Fine-Structure Constant The General Science Journal http://www.wbabin.net/files/4479_laster1.pdf [4] Mark Aaron Simpson Founder of the String Theory Development group http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/home.php?sk=group_183288925052025&ap=1

[4a] Shreyak Chakraborty FaTe model of hyperspace http://www.scribd.com/doc/58359323/FaTe-model-of-hyperspace [4b] Shreyak Chakraborty Grid Dualities in Golden FaTe http://www.scribd.com/doc/59167155/Grid-Dualities-in-Golden-FaTe [5] Charles A. Laster (30 April 2011) A More "Universal" Atomic Model The General Science Journal http://gsjournal.net/files/4404_laster.pdf [6] Yu-Ju Lin, R. Compton, K. Garcia, J. Porto, I. Spielman Synthetic magnetic fields for ultracold neutral atoms 2 July 2010 arXiv.org http://arxiv.org/abs/1007.0294 [7] Charles Laster (16 June 2011) The Electron: A Double Solution The General Science Journal http://www.wbabin.net/files/4492_laster2.pdf^ G. Danby, J-M Gaillard, K. Goulianos, L. M. [8] Guido Bacciagaluppi and Antonv Valentini Quantum Theory at the Crossroads Cambridge University Press ISBN: 9780521814218