What happens to spin during the SO(3)->SE(2) contraction? (On spin and extended structures in quantum mechanics)
Abstract
Description
It is shown that the spin operator can be described by an algebra which is in between so(3) and e(2). Relativistic version of the singlet state for two Dirac electrons is discussed. It is shown that a measure of massless particle's extension can be naturally constructed and that this measure corresponds at the classical level to the radius of the Robinson congruence.
6 pages, REVTeX
6 pages, REVTeX