Visualizing spin states using the spin coherent state representation
Visualizing spin states using the spin coherent state representation
复制标题
使用自旋相干态表示可视化自旋态
DOI：
--
复制
发表时间：
2015
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
M. Kim
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Y. Loh;M. Kim
轨道角动量本征函数很容易用球面谐波来理解。然而，自旋的量子力学现象通常被认为是神秘的，难以想象的，没有经典的类比。许多教科书给出了一个启发式的、多少有些令人不满意的自旋矢量图。在这里，我们证明了自旋相干态表示是一种引人注目的、优雅的、数学上有意义的自旋态可视化工具。我们还证明了地图投影（如Hammer投影）对于在球面上定义的函数的可视化是有用的。
Orbital angular momentum eigenfunctions are readily understood in terms of spherical harmonics. However, the quantum mechanical phenomenon of spin is often said to be mysterious and hard to visualize, with no classical analog. Many textbooks give a heuristic and somewhat unsatisfying picture of a precessing spin vector. Here, we show that the spin-coherent-state representation is a striking, elegant, and mathematically meaningful tool for visualizing spin states. We also demonstrate that cartographic projections such as the Hammer projection are useful for visualizing functions defined on spherical surfaces.