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advanced_tools:spinors [2018/03/30 14:51] jakobadmin [Concrete] |
advanced_tools:spinors [2018/12/16 17:08] jakobadmin [Why is it interesting?] |
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<tabbox Intuitive> | <tabbox Intuitive> | ||
- | A spinor is a mathematical object similar to a [[basic_tools:vector_calculus|vector]]. However, while a vector points in some spatial direction, like, for example, in the direction of the north pole, a spinor points in a direction in an [[advanced_tools:internal_symmetries|internal space]]. | + | A spinor is a mathematical object similar to a [[basic_tools:vector_calculus|vector]]. However, while a vector points in some spatial direction, like, for example, in the direction of the north pole, a spinor points in a direction in an [[advanced_tools:internal_symmetry|internal space]]. |
A curious property of a spinor is that if you rotate it by 360° it isn't the same but get's a minus sign. Only after a rotation by 720° a spinor is again the same. In contrast a vector is completely unchanged if you rotate it by 360°. | A curious property of a spinor is that if you rotate it by 360° it isn't the same but get's a minus sign. Only after a rotation by 720° a spinor is again the same. In contrast a vector is completely unchanged if you rotate it by 360°. | ||
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<cite>[[https://arxiv.org/abs/1312.3824|An introduction to spinors]] by Andrew M. Steane</cite> | <cite>[[https://arxiv.org/abs/1312.3824|An introduction to spinors]] by Andrew M. Steane</cite> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
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+ | <blockquote>No one fully understands spinors. Their algebra is formally understood, but their geometrical significance is mysterious. | ||
+ | In some sense they describe the ‘‘square root’’ of geometry and, just as understanding the concept of p | ||
+ | −1 took centuries, | ||
+ | the same might be true of spinors. <cite>Sir Michael Atiyah</cite></blockquote> | ||