Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Classical Models of the Spin 1/2 System

C. Salazar-Lazaro

Published Jan 1, 2012• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We proposed a Quaternionic mechanical system motivated by the Foucault pendulum as a classical model for the dynamics of the spin 1/2 system. We showed that this mechanical system contains the dynamics of the spin state of the electron under a uniform magnetic field as it is given by the Schrodinger-Pauli-Equation (SPE). We closed with a characterization of the dynamics of this generalized classical system by showing that it is equivalent with the dynamics of the Schrodinger Pauli Equation as long as the solutions to the generalized classical system are roots of the Lagrangian, that is the condition L = 0 holds.

DOI
10.31979/etd.k9bt-edx6

Related papers

Foucault's Pendulum, a Classical Analog for the Electron Spin State

R. A. Linck

Spin has long been regarded as a fundamentally quantum phenomena that is incapable of being described classically. To bridge the gap and show that aspects of spin's quantum nature can be described classically, this work uses a classical Lagrangian based on the coupled oscillations of Foucault's pendulum as an analog for the electron spin state in an external magnetic field. With this analog it is possible to demonstrate that Foucault's pendulum not only serves as a basis for explaining geometric phase, but is also a basis for reproducing a broad range of behavior from Zeeman-like frequency splitting to precession of the spin state. By demonstrating that unmeasured electron spin states can be fully described in classical terms, this research opens the door to using the tools of classical physics to examine an inherently quantum phenomenon.

•Jan 1, 2013•0 citations

On the quaternion representation of the Pauli spinor of an electron

Marc M. Cahay, George Purdy, D Morris

Abstract The solution to the time-dependent Pauli–Schrödinger equation is written using quaternion algebra, i.e. by expressing the unitary operator describing the time evolution of the Pauli spinor and the Pauli spinor itself as left-chirality quaternions. The quaternion approach is used to express the time evolution of a qubit on the Bloch sphere under the action of the commonly used quantum gates and to implement the two-qubit controlled-NOT (CNOT) gate and the three-qubit Tofolli gate. The quaternion formalism is also applied to describe: (1) a general two-qubit quaternionic gate, (2) the Larmor precession of an electron spin in an uniform magnetic field, and (3) the issue of measurements in quantum mechanics. Finally, the time-dependent Pauli–Schrödinger equation is also solved using right-chirality quaternions.

Physica Scripta•Apr 2, 2019•19 citations

A classical analog for the electron spin state

K. B. Wharton, R. A. Linck, C. Salazar-Lazaro

Despite conventional wisdom that spin-1/2 systems have no classical analog, we introduce a set of classical coupled oscillators with solutions that exactly map onto the dynamics of an unmeasured electron spin state in an arbitrary, time-varying, magnetic field. While not addressing the quantum measurement problem (discrete outcomes and their associated probabilities), this new classical analog yields a classical, physical interpretation of Zeeman splitting, geometric phase, the electron's doubled gyromagnetic ratio, and other quantum phenomena. This Lagrangian-based model can be used to clarify the division between classical and quantum systems, and might also serve as a guidepost for certain approaches to quantum foundations.

arXiv:1111.3348•Nov 14, 2011•5 citations

Exact Solutions of the Heisenberg Equations and Zitterbewegung of the Electron in a Constant Uniform Magnetic Field

A. O. Barut, Anthony J. Bracken

For a free Dirac electron, the Heisenberg equations define an internal dynamical system in the rest frame, isomorphic to a finite three-dimensional oscillator with a compact SO(5) phase space, such that the spin of the electron is the orbital angular momentum of the internal dynamics (Barut and Bracken 1980, 1981a). In the present work, the change in this internal dynamics due to an external magnetic field is studied. In order that the internal motion can be distinguished from the centre of mass motion, the solutions of the corresponding Hamilton and Heisenberg equations for the relativistic classical motion and the relativistic quantum mechanical spinless motion are also presented. The solutions for the electron exhibit the effect of the spin terms both in the internal motion and external motion, and we are able to identify the properties of the Zitterbewegung in the external field.

Australian Journal of Physics•Aug 1, 1982•12 citations

Pre-geometric structure of quantum and classical particles in terms of quaternion spinors

Alexander P. Yefremov

It is shown that dyad vectors on a local domain of a complex-number-valued surface, when squared, form a set of four quaternion algebra units. A model of a proto-particle is built by the dyad rotation and stretching; this transformation violates the metric properties of the surface, but the defect is cured by a stability condition for a normalization functional over an abstract space. If the space is the physical one, then the stability condition is precisely the Schrödinger equation; the separated real and imaginary parts of the condition are the mass conservation equation and the Hamilton-Jacoby equation, respectively. A 3D particle (composed of proto-particle parts) should be conceived as a rotating massive point, its Lagrangian automatically becoming that of a relativistic classical particle, with energy and momentum proportional to Planck’s constant. The influence of a vector field on particle propagation causes an automatic appearance of Pauli’s spin term in the Schrödinger equation.

arXiv:1212.6005•Gravitation and Cosmology•Apr 1, 2013•5 citations

Classical particles with spin. I. The WKBJ approximation

John J. Stachel, Jerzy F Plebanski

This is the first of a series of papers developing the classical theory of a spinning particle. The equations of motion will be derived from a Lagrangian, and solutions for the classical trajectory and spin precession in external fields will be given. In this paper an abstract spin vector is introduced to characterize the spin of a classical particle. Lagrangians for the classical trajectories and for the motion of the abstract spin vector are derived from corresponding quantum-mechanical Lagrangians by the WKBJ approximation method for nonrelativistic and relativistic particles. The equations of motion for the trajectory and the abstract spin vector following from the extremalization of these Lagrangians are given. The equations of motion for the precession in an external electromagnetic field of the spin vector (or tensor) in space–time is derived from the equations of motion for the abstract spin vector. In the relativistic case, they are equivalent to the Bargmann–Michel–Telegdi equations [Phys. Rev. Lett. 2, 435 (1959)]. The relationship between the ensemble and single-particle points of view is also elucidated.

Journal of Mathematical Physics•Dec 1, 1977•13 citations
We proposed a Quaternionic mechanical system motivated by the Foucault pendulum as a classical model for the dynamics of the spin 1/2 system. We showed that this mechanical system contains the dynamics of the spin state of the electron under a uniform magnetic field as it is given by the Schrodinger-Pauli-Equation (SPE). We closed with a characterization of the dynamics of this generalized classical system by showing that it is equivalent with the dynamics of the Schrodinger Pauli Equation as long as the solutions to the generalized classical system are roots of the Lagrangian, that is the condition L = 0 holds.
Spin has long been regarded as a fundamentally quantum phenomena that is incapable of being described classically. To bridge the gap and show that aspects of spin's quantum nature can be described classically, this work uses a classical Lagrangian based on the coupled oscillations of Foucault's pendulum as an analog for the electron spin state in an external magnetic field. With this analog it is possible to demonstrate that Foucault's pendulum not only serves as a basis for explaining geometric phase, but is also a basis for reproducing a broad range of behavior from Zeeman-like frequency splitting to precession of the spin state. By demonstrating that unmeasured electron spin states can be fully described in classical terms, this research opens the door to using the tools of classical physics to examine an inherently quantum phenomenon.
Abstract The solution to the time-dependent Pauli–Schrödinger equation is written using quaternion algebra, i.e. by expressing the unitary operator describing the time evolution of the Pauli spinor and the Pauli spinor itself as left-chirality quaternions. The quaternion approach is used to express the time evolution of a qubit on the Bloch sphere under the action of the commonly used quantum gates and to implement the two-qubit controlled-NOT (CNOT) gate and the three-qubit Tofolli gate. The quaternion formalism is also applied to describe: (1) a general two-qubit quaternionic gate, (2) the Larmor precession of an electron spin in an uniform magnetic field, and (3) the issue of measurements in quantum mechanics. Finally, the time-dependent Pauli–Schrödinger equation is also solved using right-chirality quaternions.
Despite conventional wisdom that spin-1/2 systems have no classical analog, we introduce a set of classical coupled oscillators with solutions that exactly map onto the dynamics of an unmeasured electron spin state in an arbitrary, time-varying, magnetic field. While not addressing the quantum measurement problem (discrete outcomes and their associated probabilities), this new classical analog yields a classical, physical interpretation of Zeeman splitting, geometric phase, the electron's doubled gyromagnetic ratio, and other quantum phenomena. This Lagrangian-based model can be used to clarify the division between classical and quantum systems, and might also serve as a guidepost for certain approaches to quantum foundations.
For a free Dirac electron, the Heisenberg equations define an internal dynamical system in the rest frame, isomorphic to a finite three-dimensional oscillator with a compact SO(5) phase space, such that the spin of the electron is the orbital angular momentum of the internal dynamics (Barut and Bracken 1980, 1981a). In the present work, the change in this internal dynamics due to an external magnetic field is studied. In order that the internal motion can be distinguished from the centre of mass motion, the solutions of the corresponding Hamilton and Heisenberg equations for the relativistic classical motion and the relativistic quantum mechanical spinless motion are also presented. The solutions for the electron exhibit the effect of the spin terms both in the internal motion and external motion, and we are able to identify the properties of the Zitterbewegung in the external field.
It is shown that dyad vectors on a local domain of a complex-number-valued surface, when squared, form a set of four quaternion algebra units. A model of a proto-particle is built by the dyad rotation and stretching; this transformation violates the metric properties of the surface, but the defect is cured by a stability condition for a normalization functional over an abstract space. If the space is the physical one, then the stability condition is precisely the Schrödinger equation; the separated real and imaginary parts of the condition are the mass conservation equation and the Hamilton-Jacoby equation, respectively. A 3D particle (composed of proto-particle parts) should be conceived as a rotating massive point, its Lagrangian automatically becoming that of a relativistic classical particle, with energy and momentum proportional to Planck’s constant. The influence of a vector field on particle propagation causes an automatic appearance of Pauli’s spin term in the Schrödinger equation.
This is the first of a series of papers developing the classical theory of a spinning particle. The equations of motion will be derived from a Lagrangian, and solutions for the classical trajectory and spin precession in external fields will be given. In this paper an abstract spin vector is introduced to characterize the spin of a classical particle. Lagrangians for the classical trajectories and for the motion of the abstract spin vector are derived from corresponding quantum-mechanical Lagrangians by the WKBJ approximation method for nonrelativistic and relativistic particles. The equations of motion for the trajectory and the abstract spin vector following from the extremalization of these Lagrangians are given. The equations of motion for the precession in an external electromagnetic field of the spin vector (or tensor) in space–time is derived from the equations of motion for the abstract spin vector. In the relativistic case, they are equivalent to the Bargmann–Michel–Telegdi equations [Phys. Rev. Lett. 2, 435 (1959)]. The relationship between the ensemble and single-particle points of view is also elucidated.