Abstract
A path integral for spinning particles is developed. It is a one-particle theory, equivalent to the usual quantum mechanics. Our method employs a classical model for spin which is quantized by path integration. The model, the spherical top, is a natural one from a group-theoretic point of view and has been used before in a similar context. The curvature and multiple connectedness of the top coordinate space [$\mathrm{SO}(3)$] provide some interesting features in the sum over paths. The Green's function which results from this procedure propagates all spins, and recovery of the usual Pauli spinors from this formalism is achieved by projection to a specific spin subspace.
Keywords
Path integral formulationPhysicsSpinorSpin (aerodynamics)SpinningPauli exclusion principleSpinsFormalism (music)Quantum mechanicsSubspace topologyCurvatureParallel transportClassical mechanicsMathematical physicsQuantumMathematicsMathematical analysisGeometry
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1968
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 176
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1558-1569
- Citations
- 311
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
L. S. Schulman
(1968).
A Path Integral for Spin.
Physical Review
, 176
(5)
, 1558-1569.
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrev.176.1558
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1103/physrev.176.1558