Abstract
It is shown that a Hermitian phase operator exists for quantum spins. Its spectrum is not continuous but has the values (2 pi /(2S+1))n, 0<or=n<or=2S for spin S. The precession of a high-S spin in a magnetic field is shown to consist essentially of a set of jumps from one value of phase to the next one, at equal time intervals. At intermediate times the value of the phase is uncertain. By going to a larger Hilbert space than the spin space, a Hermitian phase operator whose eigenvalue spectrum covers the entire real line is defined, and its relation to the formerly defined operator is clarified. Possible applications to spin and other systems are outlined.
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