• Open Access

Is the Angular Momentum of an Electron Conserved in a Uniform Magnetic Field?

Colin R. Greenshields, Robert L. Stamps, Sonja Franke-Arnold, and Stephen M. Barnett
Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 240404 – Published 9 December 2014

Abstract

We show that an electron moving in a uniform magnetic field possesses a time-varying “diamagnetic” angular momentum. Surprisingly this means that the kinetic angular momentum of the electron may vary with time, despite the rotational symmetry of the system. This apparent violation of angular momentum conservation is resolved by including the angular momentum of the surrounding fields.

  • Figure
  • Received 25 July 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.240404

This article is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

Published by the American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Colin R. Greenshields, Robert L. Stamps, Sonja Franke-Arnold, and Stephen M. Barnett*

  • SUPA School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom

  • *Stephen.Barnett@glasgow.ac.uk

Article Text

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Issue

Vol. 113, Iss. 24 — 12 December 2014

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