spin vector

American  

noun

plural

spin vectors

1. a vector representing a particle's angular momentum.

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spin vector Scientific  

1. A vector quantity used to represent the spin angular momentum of a particle. Its magnitude represents the magnitude of the spin, while its direction lies along the axis of rotation of the particle, following the right hand rule.

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Example Sentences

The team showed that, when the wave function’s spin vector is aligned along the waveguide’s axis, the distribution of arrival times predicted by the quantum flux method and by Bohmian mechanics are identical.

From Scientific American • Oct. 21, 2021

When the spin vector is perpendicular, however, the distinctions become starker.

From Scientific American • Oct. 21, 2021

Each wave function can be characterized by something called its spin vector.

From Scientific American • Oct. 21, 2021