spinor

1 9.9

A mathematical object in quantum physics that shows how tiny particles point and turn

noun
/ˈspɪnər/

Specialized

: spinor

String theory, Fourier-conjugate spinors, and quantum chromodynamics are linked in ways that suggest new methods to compute probability amplitudes for high-energy particle interactions.
spinor coordinates
two spinors

Examples

The spinor decomposition affords a fresh view of tree amplitudes as functions of spinor momenta instead of four-vector momenta.
Spinor coordinates helped make the connection.

Academic text (2004)
Alternatively, I thought about working on spinors in Einstein's theory.

Academic text (1999)
As a result, there is spin structure in the atomic ground state, making it possible to create multicomponent condensates (also called spinor condensates).

Academic text (1999)
Thus, Wigner provided the deep reason for spinors in nature, which had previously been introduced in an ad hoc fashion to describe fermions such as the electron.

Academic text (1995)
Lorentz symmetry allows four-momenta of massless particles to be written as a product of two Lorentz-group spinors.

Academic text (2004)
The spinor representation simplifies the description of complex particle interactions in theoretical physics.
In quantum field theory, spinors play a crucial role in characterizing the properties of fermions, such as electrons.

Surface Forms

spinor singular

spinors plural

Morphology

spinor = spin (opaque) = spin + or

Although the word contains the recognizable element 'spin', its technical meaning in mathematics and physics is specialized and not directly predictable for a learner from the parts alone.

Etymology

Spinor comes from the everyday word spin, meaning 'to turn quickly', plus the ending -or like in actor, so it originally meant 'something related to spin'. That's why spinor is used for a mathematical object that describes how small particles turn or which way they point in space.