The effects of a magnetic field on the energy and on the spin of free electrons are computed in the theoretical framework of quantum field theory. In the case of a static moderate field and with relatively slow electrons, the derived formulae are particularly simple. A comparison with the approaches of classical physics and of quantum mechanics shows essential differences and important analogies. The relevance to the magnetic effects of the initial polarization components of the electron states and the possible existence of special values of these quantities are discussed in the final conclusions, which might be useful to explain recent experiments on quasi-free electrons in chiral systems in biology.

Quantum field theory treatment of magnetic effects on a system of free electrons

Germano R;
2018

Abstract

The effects of a magnetic field on the energy and on the spin of free electrons are computed in the theoretical framework of quantum field theory. In the case of a static moderate field and with relatively slow electrons, the derived formulae are particularly simple. A comparison with the approaches of classical physics and of quantum mechanics shows essential differences and important analogies. The relevance to the magnetic effects of the initial polarization components of the electron states and the possible existence of special values of these quantities are discussed in the final conclusions, which might be useful to explain recent experiments on quasi-free electrons in chiral systems in biology.
2018
Istituto Superconduttori, materiali innovativi e dispositivi - SPIN
Chiral systems
Classical physics
Derived formulae
Magnetic effects
Polarization components
Quantum field theory
Quasi-free electron
Theoretical framework
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14243/347678
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