Spin (physics)

In physics, spin is an intrinsic angular momentum associated with microscopic particles. It is a purely quantum mechanical phenomenon without any analogy in classical mechanics. Whereas classical angular momentum arises from the rotation of an extended object, spin is not associated with any rotating internal masses, but is intrinsic to the particle itself. Elementary particles such as the electron can have non-zero spin, even though they are believed to be point particles possessing no internal structure. The concept of spin was introduced in 1925 by Ralph Kronig, and independently by George Uhlenbeck and Samuel Goudsmit.

References

• {{Book reference | Author=Griffiths, David J.|Title=Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (2nd ed.) | Publisher=Prentice Hall |Year=2004 |ID=ISBN 013805326X}}
• "Spintronics. Feature Article" in Scientific American, June 2002