Quantum Spin – Deriving the Spin-1 Matrices from Spin-1/2

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In quantum mechanics, we know that the spin 1/2 matrices are:

$$S_x = \frac{\hbar}{2} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{pmatrix},
\quad S_y = \frac{\hbar}{2} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & -i \\ i & 0 \end{pmatrix},
\quad S_z = \frac{\hbar}{2} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & -1 \end{pmatrix}$$

While I am pretty sure I understand how we got these, it is still fuzzy for me. Thus, as an application of this (and as part of homework), I am trying to understand how to get the matrices for higher spin levels.

Thus, with the spin 1/2 matrices, how do we obtain the spin 1 or greater matrices?

Best Answer

You don't really derive higher-spin matrices from lower-spin ones. Rather, they are derived from the algebra of spin operators and from how they act oon the chosen spin basis.

The basis chosen is usually the basis of eigenvectors of operator $S_z$, and are often denoted $|j,m\rangle$, $2j\in\mathbb{N}$, $m\in\{-j,-j+1\dots,j\}$. Operator $S_z$ act on them as follows:

$$ S_z|j,m\rangle = \hbar m |j,m\rangle $$ We also have operators $S_+=S_x+iS_y$ and $S_-=S_x-iS_y$. Using the algebra of spin operators it can be proven that $$ S_+|j,m\rangle = \hbar \sqrt{(j-m)(j+m+1)}|j,m+1\rangle $$ $$ S_-|j,m\rangle = \hbar \sqrt{(j+m)(j-m+1)}|j,m-1\rangle $$ (try to do it yourself, or ask if you need help). These relations are enough to write down the matrices of $S_z$, $S_+$ and $S_-$ in the basis of vectors $|j,m\rangle$, and from $S_+$ and $S_-$ you can obtain $S_x$ and $S_y$.

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