Thomas precession, relativistic torque, and non-planar orbits

TL;DR

This paper investigates the angular momentum dynamics of particles experiencing Thomas precession, clarifying the roles of relativistic torque and spin-orbit interactions, and demonstrating how spin precession leads to out-of-plane motion.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of angular momentum balance in relativistic particles, linking spin precession with orbital angular momentum and clarifying related relativistic effects.

Findings

Spin precession is accompanied by orbital angular momentum precession.

Relativistic torque influences the motion of spinning particles.

Out-of-plane motion results from spin-orbit interactions.

Abstract

We analyze the angular momentum balance for a particle undergoing Thomas precession. The relationships among relativistic torque, the center of mass, and the center of inertia for a spinning particle are clarified. We show that spin precession is accompanied by orbital angular momentum precession, and present examples of the resulting out-of-plane motion.