Pauli matrix
nounEtymology Named after Wolfgang Ernst Pauli (1900–1958), Austrian theoretical physicist.
1
Mathematics, Sciences Any one of three complex matrices that arise in Wolfgang Pauli's treatment of spin in quantum mechanics.
- The Pauli matrices satisfy the equation #92;sigma#95;1²#61;#92;sigma#95;2²#61;#92;sigma#95;3²#61;-i#92;sigma#95;1#92;sigma#95;2#92;sigma#95;3#61;I which is reminiscent of Hamilton's fundamental formula for quaternion multiplication.
- The first Pauli matrix is like a reflection about the "y=x" line. The third Pauli matrix is like a reflection about the "x axis". The second Pauli matrix is like a 90° counterclockwise rotation and scalar multiplication by the imaginary unit (which rotates the two complex components by 90° counterclockwise in their own "phasor spaces", as it were).
1 more example
- The eigenspinors are eigenvectors of the Pauli matrices in the case of a single spin 1/2 particle. —Wikipedia
- Hypernyms
- Hermitian matrix, unitary matrix
- Holonyms
- Pauli vector