What if the invisible forces that hold the universe together could be seen as waves? This concept is not mere speculation; Recent theoretical advances suggest that such waves, which carry the momentum of rotating particles, could be a reality. These waves, called angular momentum waves, could potentially transform our understanding of interactions between particles as dramatically as the discovery of electromagnetic waves transformed communication. This new view of physics could pave the way for innovative methods to visualize and understand the invisible forces at play, from the smallest particles to the largest cosmic structures.
As our understanding of the physical world continues to expand, a groundbreaking study by Professor Jing-Ling Chen, Xing-Yan Fan and Xiang-Ru Xie of Nankai University has opened a new frontier in the study of wave phenomena through via the Yang–Mills equations. This groundbreaking research, recently published in the journal Results in Physics, proposes the existence of angular momentum waves, a concept that could revolutionize our understanding of the fundamental forces of nature.
Yang-Mills theory, an integral part of the Standard Model of particle physics, extends Maxwell's equations to more complex interactions. These include electroweak and strong interactions, expanding our theoretical framework beyond the classical electromagnetic phenomena described by Maxwell's original equations. This extension predicts angular momentum waves, potentially detectable through phenomena such as spin angular momentum oscillation, similar to the “spin Zitterbewegung” observed in Dirac electrons.
“Building on Maxwell's legacy, our study predicts angular momentum waves using Yang-Mills theory. “These waves arise from deep symmetries and interactions that are essential to understanding forces within the standard model of particle physics,” Professor Chen explained.
Using operator solutions of the Yang-Mills equations under weak coupling and zero coupling approximations, the researchers demonstrated how these conditions facilitate the emergence of new wave phenomena. These waves propagate through interactions involving the spin of particles, which are fundamentally quantum mechanical but observable on a macroscopic scale.
“Our approach involved a detailed theoretical framework in which we considered the vacuum states of the field without external sources. “This simplification allowed us to derive the conditions under which these waves manifest, providing insights into their potential detection and broader implications,” said Professor Chen, discussing the methods used to demonstrate the existence of these waves.
The study not only advances theoretical knowledge but also suggests practical experiments for the detection of angular momentum waves. One proposed experiment involves observing the effects of spin oscillations on Dirac electrons, where the rapid oscillation of the electron spin could potentially emit detectable angular momentum waves.
“The discovery of angular momentum waves could deepen our understanding of the fabric of space-time and the fundamental interactions that govern the universe. It also has the potential to lead to advances in technologies that exploit these interactions,” Professor Chen said.
This pioneering research marks a major milestone in theoretical physics, and could lead to new technologies and improve our understanding of the fundamental forces of the universe. Professor Jing-Ling highlights the broader implications of the discovery of angular momentum waves, including their potential to influence future technologies and theoretical frameworks. As the scientific community anticipates experimental verification, the excitement over these findings contributes to the ever-evolving narrative of modern physics.
Magazine reference
Fan, Xing-Yan, Xiang-Ru Xie and Jing-Ling Chen. “Prediction of angular momentum waves based on Yang-Mills equations”. Results in Physics 56 (2024): 107300. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinp.2023.107300
About the Author
Jing Ling Chen is a professor of physics at Nankai University. He earned his bachelor's degree (1994), master's degree (1997), and PhD (2000) from Nankai University, People's Republic of China. He has been a postdoctoral fellow at the Beijing Institute of Applied Physics (2000-2002) and a research fellow at the National University of Singapore (2002-2005), respectively. His research interest is quantum physics and quantum information, especially in fundamental quantum problems, such as the EPR paradox, quantum entanglement, EPR direction, Bell nonlocality, and quantum contextuality. For his contribution on quantum foundations, he won the Paul Ehrenfest Prize for the best paper on quantum foundations (2021). Recently, he has done some original explorations on spin, such as proposing the spin vector potential, introducing the spin-type Aharonov-Bohm effect, and predicting the spin angular momentum wave.
You have successfully subscribed!
