Calculation of the expectation values of the spin and the magnetic moment of the gamma photons created as a result of the electron-positron annihilation

Abstract

We have calculated the expectation values of the spin and the intrinsic magnetic moment of the gamma photons created as a result of the electron-positron annihilation. We show that, depending on its helicity a gamma photon propagating in z direction with an angular frequency carries a magnetic moment of along the propagation direction. Here the (+) and (-) signs stand for the right hand and left circular helicity respectively. e argue that in a Stern-Gerlach experiment (SGE) the magnetic moment is an important property but not the spin of the particles. Because of these two symmetric values of the magnetic moment, we expect a splitting of the gamma photon beam into two symmetric sub beams in a (SGE). We believe that the present result will be helpful for understanding the recent attempts on the (SGE) with slow light and the behavior of the dark polaritons and also the atomic spinor polaritons.