1

Schrdinger equation does not include spin as intrinsic variable,

since spin is a relativistic phenomenon having no classical counterpart.
So, in Schrdinger formalism, the spin angular momentum can be
regarded as an additional degree of freedom. The components of the
spin obey the same commutation relation as the components of the
angular momentum.
S 2 s m s

s s 1 s m s

Sz s m s m s s m s
S s m s

s ms s

s s 1 m s m s 1 s m s 1

3
S 2 s m s
4
1 2
2
2
2
Sx Sy Sz
4

s ms
and S 2 S x2 S y2 S z2

3
4

These components satisfy the commutation relations as those of orbital

angular momentum (L):
Sx , Sy i Sz , Sy , Sz i Sx , Sz , Sx i Sy

prove that

In this case, the raising and lowering operators are:

S Sx iSy

and

S Sx iSy

The basis states for spin systems

The spin quantum number of the particles that make up ordinary
matter (protons, neutrons, and electrons), as well as all quarks and all
Fermions
2
e
3

2
e
3

2
e
3
1
e
3

1
e
3
1
e
3

For spin 1/2 , there are two basis wave functions for the two
dimensional spin space.
The eigen state is represented as: s m s

1 1

2 2

So

Sz

where
is for spin up (projection on the z-axis)

and

for spin down.

Operators are represented by 2 2 matrices.

In order to include the spin in the Schrdinger wave function, we
must use the fact that spin coordinates are independent of the
ms
configuration space
r
,

total

nl m

Radial and angular

spin

The column vectors representing the states are

For

1
, m s or
2
1
For m s , m s or
2

For m s

The most general state we can write is a superposition of these basis states

If the state is normalized, then

Matrix elements of spin operator

we know that:

1 2 1
ms S
ms
2
2

s s 1 m m
s

so, to find the matrix elements of S2 operator:

1 1
2 2

1
1

2
2

1 1
2 2
1
1

2
2
3
4

11 11
22 22
0

1 1 2 1 1
S
22
22

1 1 2 1
1
S

22
2
2

1 1 2 1 1
S
2 2
22

1 1 2 1
1
S

2 2
2
2

0
3
4

1 1 1 1

2 2 2 2

3
S 2
4

1 0

0
1

or

These states are orthonormal, and so the inner

products between them are

1
0

In general, the matrix representations of operators in this basis are written in the
following way:

Therefore, the matrix representation of Sz is given by

So

1 1
ms S z
ms ms m m
s
s
2
2

Using the Ladder Operators to Construct Sx, Sy

Reminding ourselves that the ladder operators act in the following way:

S s , m s

s s 1 m s m s 1 s , m s 1 ,

For the spin 1/2 case we have S 0, S 0

For s 1/ 2, m s 1/ 2 S

S
Likewise, we find that S

and so we have

1
2

, 12 or S

s s 1 m s m s 1 s , m s 1
1
2

12 1 12 12 1

1
2

1
2

11
22

10

These results allow us to construct matrix representations of these operators in the

basis. We find that

We can obtain the Sx operator from

and for Sy we find

11

The actions of these operators on the basis states can be worked out using kets (or
very easily using the matrix representation). We have

Pauli Spin Matrices

(Sx), (Sy), (Sz) and (S2) are all Hermitian (as they should be, since they represent observables).
(S+) and (S-) are not Hermitian- evidently they are not observables.

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Hermitian Matrix
a b 0
x

c d 1
*
a
x xT
b
0 1

x
1 0
so

0
*
c a* c *

*
d b d *

x x Hermitian matrix and so on,

Pauli matrices are a set of three 2 2 complex matrices which are Hermitian and unitary.
Usually indicated by the Greek letter sigma (), they are occasionally denoted by tau () when
used in connection with isospin symmetries.
These matrices are named after the physicist Wolfgang Pauli. In quantum mechanics, they
occur in the Pauli equation which takes into account the interaction of the spin of a particle
with an external electromagnetic field.

13

For a particle of mass m and charge q, in an electromagnetic field described

by the vector potential A = (Ax, Ay, Az) and scalar electric potential , the
Pauli equation reads:
2

.
p

q
A

2m

where

x , y , z are the Pauli matrices

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Example:
A particle is in the state
Find the probabilities of Measuring spin-up or spin-down in the z direction.

Solution:
We know that the most general state we can write is a superposition of
these basis states
First we expand the state in the standard basis

15

To determines the probability of measuring spin-up in the z direction, it is

found from computing
So 2 0.8

the probability of measuring spin-down

So 2 0.2

Notice that the probabilities sum to one, as they should.

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Example:
Suppose a spin particle is in the state
(a) What are the probabilities of getting
2

and

, if you measure Sz.

2

(b) What is the expectation value of Sz .

Solution:

1 1 i
1 1 i

2
6
6
0

1 i

1 0

1 2 0


0
6

1

or

1 i
2

6
6

The probabilities of measuring spin-up in the z direction it is found from

2
computing .
zero

1 i 1 i
2 2
.

.

6
6
6 6

So 2 0.333333

2 1
0.333333
6 3

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The probabilities of measuring spin-down in the z direction it is found from

computing 2 .
zero

1 i 1 i
2 2
.

.

6
6
6 6

4 2
0.6666667
6 3

So 2 0.6666667

(b) The expectation value of Sz .

1
Sz 2
2
11

3 2

or in matrix form S z S z
1
1 i

12

1 i

2
1
2 1

3
2
6

1 0 1 1 i

2 0 1 6 2
1 i
2

6
2

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Eigen Value of Sx and Sy

0 1
Sx

2 1 0
S x x x
0 1



1
0
2


In general, to calculate the eigenvalues of matrix A. These are given by the

characteristic equation

(A I ) 0.

where (I) is the identity matrix or unit matrix

So, to find the eigenvalue of the Sx operator:

Sx I

0 1
1 0

0
2 1 0
0 1

the eigenvalues of
the Sx operator

Eigen function of of Sx
(i) for

S x x x
0 1

2 1 0 2
2 2

Normalization: 2 2 1 2 2 1
1
So:

1
2 1 1
x

2 1
1

(ii) for

S x x x

0 1

2 1 0
2

2 2

Normalization: 2 2 1 2 2 1
1
So:

2

1
2
1 1

x
x

2
1

1 1
Similarly for

2 i

H.W

H.W
(1): For a particle with spin , compute in two ways the
expectation value of iS x S y S x , where the particle wave function is :
1 1
1

2
2 2

(a) Using S and S

(b) Using the matrix representation.
(2):

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