Quantum Mechanics - II

Angular Momentum - II : Addition of

Angular Momentum - Clebsch-Gordan
Coefficients
Dipan Kumar Ghosh
UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences
Kalina, Mumbai 400098
September 1, 2019

1 Introduction
Consider a spin-half particle. The state space of the particle is spanned by position kets
{| ~xi} and two dimensional spin space spanned by | ↑i and | ↓i. If the spin-orbit coupling
is weak, the Hilbert space is the product of the position space and the spin space, and is
spanned by
| ~x, ±i =| ~xi⊗ | ↑, ↓i
 
The rotation operator is still given by exp −iJ~ · n̂θ/~ , where J~ is given by

J~ = L
~ ⊗I⊕I⊗S
~

which is usually abbreviated as J~ = L

~ + S.
~ The rotation operator in the product space is
given by the product of the operators for the orbital and spin parts :
   
UR (n̂, θ) = exp −iL~ · n̂θ/~ exp −iS ~ · n̂θ/~

1
The total wavefunction is a a product of the space part and a spin part

ψα (~x) = ψ(~x)χα

where α =↑ or ↓. The wavefunction is a two component tensor

 
ψ↑ (~x)
ψ↓ (~x)

We have seen that the orbital angular momentum is described by the operator L2 and
Lz , while the spin operators by S 2 and Sz . The set of operators required to describe the
composite system is {L2 , Lz , S 2 , Sz }. Since the state space is a product of independent
states, we can write
| l, s, ml , ms i =| l, mm i⊗ | s, ms i
where

L2 | l, ml i = l(l + 1)~2 | l, ml i
Lz | l, ml i = ml ~ | l, ml i
S 2 | s, ms i = s(s + 1)~2 | s, ms i
Sz | s, ms i = ms ~ | s, ms i

Instead of considering spin and orbital angular momenta of a single particle, we could con-
sider more complex system consisting of two or more particles. We could, for instance,
talk about orbital momenta of two spinless particles or angular momenta of more com-
plex systems with many particles with different angular momenta. However, the basic
formulation remains the same as for adding two angular momenta. Let us consider two
angular momenta J1 and J2 . We define the total angular momenta of the system by

J~ = J~1 ⊗ I ⊕ I ⊗ J~2

abbreviated as
Jˆ = Jˆ1 + Jˆ2
[The hat or the vector signs (which is more commonly used) indicating the operator nature
of angular momentum will be frequently omitted. The commutation relations satisfied by

2
J1 and J2 are

[J1i , J1j ] = i~ijk J1k

[J2i , J2j ] = i~ijk J2k
[J1i , J2j ] = 0 (1)

Since the components of J1 commute with those of J2 , they can have common eigenstates.
We can choose, J12 , J1z , J22 and J2z to be a set of operators which have common eigenstates.
Let us denote the common eigenstates by | j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 i ≡| j1 , m1 i | j2 , m2 i [ Note : This
notation is not standard, several books will denote this as | j1 , m1 , j2 , m2 i. We follow
Sakurai here.]. We then have

J12 | j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 i = j1 (j1 + 1)~2 | j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 i

J1z | j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 i = m1 ~ | j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 i
J22 | j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 i = j2 (j2 + 1)~2 | j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 i
J2z | j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 i = m2 ~ | j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 i

The dimension of the space to which J1 and J2 belong is (2j1 + 1)(2j2 + 1). The set of
states | j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 i form a complete and orthonormal set
+j1 +j2
X X
| j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 ihj1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 |= 1 (2)
m1 =−j1 m2 =−j2

hj1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 | j10 , j20 ; m01 , m02 i = δj1 ,j10 δj2 ,j20 δm1 ,m01 δm2 ,m02 (3)
As mentioned for the case of the orbital and spin angular momenta, the rotation operator
in this case is given by
! !
J~1 · n̂θ J~2 · n̂θ
U1R (n̂, θ) ⊗ U2R (n̂, θ) = exp −i exp −i
~ ~

As a consequence of (1), the components of the total angular momentum Jˆ satisfy

[Ji , Jj ] = i~ijk Jk (4)

which shows that Jˆ is an angular momentum operator. It is easy to check that J 2 com-
mutes with Jz , J12 and J22 . However, Jz does not commute with either J1z or J2z . As a re-
sult, it is possible to consider an alternate set of commuting operators, viz., {J 2 ,z , J12 , J22 }

3
which would describe the same space as did our old set {J12 , J22 , J1z , J2z }. We denote the
simultaneous eigenstates represented by this new set by | j1 , j2 ; j, mi. In terms of this
new set, we have

J 2 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi = j(j + 1)~2 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi (5)

Jz | j1 , j2 ; j, mi = m~ | j1 , j2 ; j, mi (6)

These kets are also eigenkets of J12 and J22 , though not of J1z and J2z . They satisfy the
completeness relation
j
X
| j1 , j2 ; j, mihj1 , j2 ; j, m |= 1 (7)
m=−j

They can be taken to be orthonormalized

hj1 , j2 ; , j, m | j10 , j20 ; j 0 , m0 i = δm,m0 δj,j 0 (8)

It is tacitly assumed that j1 and j2 in a given problem are given and fixed . We have not
yet found out what values j can take. However, the sum over j in (7) must be over all
values of j consistent with given values of j1 and j2 . Using the completeness property(2)
of the old set {| j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 i}, we may express a member of the new set {| j1 , j2 ; j, mi}
as
j1 j2
X X
| j1 , j2 ; j, mi = | j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 ihj1 , j2 , m1 , m2 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi (9)
m1 =−j1 m2 =−j2

The coefficients hj1 , j2 , m1 , m2 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi defined in (9) are called Clebsch-Gordan

(C-G)Coefficients.. The basis defined here as represented by the kets on the left hand
side of (9) will be also referred to as the Coupled Representation.

2 Properties of C-G Coefficients

1. The C-G coefficients hj1 , j2 , m1 , m2 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi are zero unless m = m1 + m2 . To
show this, note that Jz − J1z − J2z is a null operator,

hj1 , j2 , m1 , m2 | Jz − J1z − J2z | j1 , j2 ; j, mi = 0

4
 because Jz acts to the ket on its right giving m times the ket, while J1z − J2z acts
to the bra on the left giving m1 − m2 times the bra,

(m − m1 − m2 )hj1 , j2 , m1 , m2 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi = 0

which shows that of m 6= m1 + m2 , the C-G coefficient would be zero.

2. By convention, the C-G coefficients are taken to be real, so that

hj1 , j2 , m1 , m2 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi = hj1 , j2 ; jm | j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 i

3. Orthonormality of C-G Coefficients : In the expression (8) given above, if we insert

a complete set given by (2) of old states, we get

hj1 , j2 ; , j, m | j10 , j20 ; j 0 , m0 i = δm,m0 δj,j 0

+j1 +j2
X X
hj1 , j2 ; j, m | j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 ihj1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 | j10 , j20 ; j 0 , m0 i = δm,m0 δj,j 0
m1 =−j1 m2 =−j2
(10)

Substituting j = j 0 and m = m0 in the above, we get

X
| hj1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi |2 = 1 (11)
m1 ,m2

In a similar way may start with the orthonormality condition on the old basis set
(3) and insert the completeness condition (7) of the new basis set to obtain

+j
X X
| hj1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi |2 = 1 (12)
j m=−j

4. The C-G coefficients vanish unless

| j1 − j2 |≤ j ≤ j1 + j2 (13)

The inequality on the right is obvious because mmax

1 = j1 and mmax
2 = j2 . Hence
max
m = j1 + j2 . Since the maximum value of m is j, the right inequality follows

5
 and jmax = j1 + j2 .
The inequality on the left requires a bit of working out. We know that there are
(2j1 + 1)(2j2 + 1) number of states. For each value of j, there are 2j + 1 states.
Thus we must have
jmax
X
(2j + 1) = (2j1 = 1)(2j2 + 1)
j=jmin

Left hand side of above is an arithmetic series of finite number of terms. The sum
works out as follows :
jmax − jmin + 1
l.h.s. = (2jmax + 1 + 2jmin + 1)
2
= (jmax − jmin + 1)(jmax + Jmin + 1)
= (jmax + 1)2 − jmin
2

= (j1 + j2 + 1)2 − jmin

2

2
Equating the above to (2j1 + 1)(2j2 + 1), we get jmin = (j1 − j2 )2 , which gives

jmin =| j1 − j2 |

Thus the values of j satisfies

| j1 − j2 |≤ j ≤ j1 + j2 (14)

5. For a given j, the possible m values are −j ≤ m ≤ +j.

A notation, primarily used by the nuclear physicists is known as Wigner’s 3-j symbol and
is related to C-G coefficients as follows. While the C-G coefficients are for adding two
angular moments, the 3-j symbols are for addition of three angular momenta such that
their sum gives zero angular momentum state.
 
j1 −j2 +m
p j1 j2 j
hj1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi = (−1) 2j + 1 (15)
m1 m2 m

3 Calculation of Clebsch-Gordan Coefficients

In the two limiting cases, i.e., for m1 = j1 , m2 = j2 ; m = j1 + j2 and m1 = −j1 , m2 =
−j2 ; m = −j1 − j2 , the CG coefficients are 1. For the other cases we need to obtain

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recursion relations. Note that

J± | j1 , j2 ; j, mi = (J1,± + J2,± ) | j1 , j2 ; j, mi
X
= hj1 , j2 ; m01 , m02 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi(J1,± + J2,± ) | j1 , j2 ; m01 , m02 i
m01 ,m02

Applying the ladder operator on both sides

p X
(j ∓ m)(j ± m + 1) | j1 , j2 ; j, m ± 1i = hj1 , j2 ; m01 , m02 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi
m01 ,m02
p
(j1 ∓ m01 )(j1 ± m01 + 1) | j1 , j2 ; m01 ± 1, m02 i
p 
(j2 ∓ m02 )(j2 ± m02 + 1) | j1 , j2 ; m01 , m02 ± 1i (16)

Multiply both sides of the above equation by hj1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 | and use orthogonality con-
dition. The term on the left gives a CG coefficient. The first term on the right is non-zero
only if m1 = m01 ± 1 and m2 = m02 while the second term is non-zero if m1 = m01 and
m2 = m02 ±1. Using these on the right, we get a relationship between three CG coefficients.
p
(j ∓ m)(j ± m1 + 1)hj1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 | j1 , j2 ; j, m ± 1i =
p
(j1 ∓ m1 + 1)(j1 ± m1 )hj1 , j2 ; m1 ∓ 1, m2 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi
p
+ (j2 ∓ m2 + 1)(j2 ± m2 )hj1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 ∓ 1 | j1 , j2 ; j, mi (17)

Note that the left there are CG coefficients which require m1 + m2 = m ± 1.

3.1 Examples of CG Coefficient Calculation

Example 1 - Adding two spin 1/2 angular momenta :
We will denote the spins by ŝ1 and ŝ2 and total spin by Ŝ. This could, for instance,
represent the case of the spin states of hydrogen atom wherein the electron and the proton
each have spin 1/2. Clearly, the spin angular moments of two different particles commute.
The total spin S can take values from s1 − s2 to s1 + s2 , i.e. 0 and 1. Corresponding
to s = 0, there is only one state with m = 0 while for s = 1, there are three states
with m = −1, 0 and +1. The former is called a singlet while the latter trio are known
as triplets. (s1 = 1/2 has two states and s2 = 1/2 also has two states, so that there are

7
 1 1
2 × 2 = 4 states). We note that the state | , ; 1, 1i in the representation | s1 , s2 , s, mi
2 2
1 1 1 1
is uniquely obtained from the state | , ; , i of | s1 , s2 , m1 , m2 i representation.
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1 1 1
| , ; 1, 1i =| , ; , i
2 2 2 2 2 2
Apply
p J− on the left and (J1− + J2− ) on the right and use the formula J| j, mi =
(j + m)(j − m + 1)

1 1 1 1 1 1
J− | , ; 1, 1i = (J1− + J2− ) | , ; , i
2 2 2 2 2 2
√ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2| , ; 1, 0i =| , ; − , i+ | , ; , − i
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Thus the Clebsch-Gordon coefficients are

h1/2, 1/2; 1/2, 1/2 | 1/2, 1/2, 1, 1i = 1

1
h1/2, 1/2; 1/2, −1/2 | 1/2, 1/2, 1, 0i = √
2
1
h1/2, 1/2; −1/2, 1/2 | 1/2, 1/2, 1, 0i = √
2
The coefficient for s = 1.m = −1 need not be calculated as it is obtained by symmetry
to be also equal to 1. For s = 0, there is only state with m = 0. This state is orthogonal
to the state | 1/2, 1/2, 1, 0i and is given by
1
| 1/2, 1/2, 0, 0i = √ (| 1/2, 1/2, 1/2, −1/2i− | 1/2, 1/2, −1/2, 1/2i)
2
Thus
1
h1/2, 1/2; 1/2, −1/2 | 1/2, 1/2, 1, 0i = √
2
1
h1/2, 1/2; −1/2, 1/2 | 1/2, 1/2, 1, 0i = − √
2

8
It is conventional to indicate the state with m = 1/2 as | ↑i or as α. The state with
m = −1/2 is then indicated as | ↓i or as β. The triplet states are then s = 1 :

m = +1 :| ↑↑i
1
m = 0 : √ [| ↑↓i+ | ↓↑i)
2
m = −1 :| ↓↓i

It may be noted that the triplets are symmetric with respect to the two spins. The singlet
state s = 0 is given by
1
√ [| ↑↓i− | ↓↑i)
2
which is antisymmetric under exchange of spins.
When the magnitudes of the two angular momenta are different, it is conventional to
choose the one with larger magnitude as the first spin and the other one as the second.
This convention has some repercussion in fixing the signs of Clebsch-Gordan coefficients,
which we will talk about in the next example.
Example 2: A Hydrogen atom is known to be in the state n = 3, l = 2. Find all the
values of the total angular momentum j and for each j, the eigenvalue of J 2 operator.
1 1 5 3
We have l = 2, s = 1/2. Thus allowed values of j are from 2 − to 2 + , i.e. , . The
2 2 2 2
eigenvalue of J 2 being j(j + 1)~2 , we have, for j = 5/2 the eigenvalue is (35/4)~2 and
(15/4)~2 respectively.
3 1
Example 3: For two spins s = 1/2 each, show that I + 2 Ŝ1 · Ŝ2 is a projection operator
4 ~
1 1
for S = 1 and I − 2 Ŝ1 · Ŝ2 is a projection operator for S = 0
4 ~
Solution:
Note
3 1 3 1
I + 2 Ŝ1 · Ŝ2 = I + 2 [S 2 − S12 − S22 ]
4 ~ 4 2~
3
For S = 1, S 2 has eigenvalue 1(1 + 1)~2 = 2~2 and S12 and S22 have eigenvalue ~2 each.
4
Thus we get for S = 1 this expression to have value 1 and for S = 0 it has value 0. Thus
the operator projects S = 1 state.
Example 4: Adding j1 = 1 with j2 = 1/2
In this case, in the j1 , j2 ; m1 , m2 representation there are 3 × 2 = 6 states. The resultant

9
 3 1
angular momentum which satisfies | j1 − j2 |≤ j ≤ j1 + j2 can take values and , the
2 2
former has 4 states and the latter 2, making a total of 6 states as before. We proceed as
follows. Start with the state having maximum j value and maximum possible m value
3 3
corresponding to this j. In this case it is j = and m = . This state is obtained
2 2
uniquely from j1 = 1, m1 = 1 and j2 = 1/2, m2 = 1/2. Thus

| 1, 1/2; 3/2, 3/2i =| 1, 1/2; 1, 1/2i

We apply J− p
on the ket on the left and J1− +J2− to the ket on the right, using the formula
J− | j, mi = (j + m)(j − m + 1) | j, m − 1i. We then get
√ √
3 | 1, 1/2; 3/2, 1/2i = 2 | 1, 1/2; 0, 1/2i+ | 1, 1/2; 1, −1/2i (18)

From this it follows that

r
2
h1, 1/2; 3/2, 1/2 | 1, 1/2; 0, 1/2i =
3
r
1
h1, 1/2; 3/2, 1/2 | 1, 1/2; 1, −1/2i =
3
The remaining coefficients belonging to the negative values of m are obtained by symme-
try. We now consider the j = 1/2 state with = ±1/2. Once again, we will only compute
m = 1/2 term. Note that the state | 1, 1/2; 1/2, 1/2i is orthogonal to the state with the
same m but j = 3/2. Thus this state is orthogonal to
r r
2 1
| 1, 1/2; 3/2, 1/2i = | 1, 1/2; 0, 1/2i + | 1, 1/2; 1, −1/2i
3 3
The state which is orthogonal to the state on the right is obviously
r r !
1 2
| 1, 1/2; 1/2, 1/2i = ± | 1, 1/2; 0, 1/2i − | 1, 1/2; 1, −1/2i
3 3

Thus, there is an ambiguity on the overall phase. In order to fix the sign, we use what
is known as Condon-Shortley sign convention according which the state with the
highest m of the larger component of the angular momentum that is being added is
assigned a positive sign. In case where j1 = j2 , as was the case in the previous example,

10
the first mentioned one, i.e. j1 will be taken to be the larger component for application
of this convention. Thus in this case the state with j1 = 1, m1 = 1 will be taken to be
positive. Thus we have
r r
2 1
| 1, 1/2; 1/2, 1/2i = | 1, 1/2; 1, −1/2i − | 1, 1/2; 0, 1/2i
3 3
This gives two Clebsch-Gordan coefficients as follows
r
2
h1, 1/2; 1/2, 1/2 | 1, 1/2; 1, −1/2i =
3
r
1
h1, 1/2; 1/2, 1/2 | 1, 1/2; 0, 1/2i = −
3

11
 Example 5: Adding j1 = 1 with j2 = 1

Here in the j1 , j2 , m1 , m2 basis, there are 3 × 3 = 9 members. In the coupled represen-

tation the possible angular momenta are j = 2, 1, 0 with respectively 5, 3 and 1 states,
making it 9, as expected. In this case we start with

| 1, 1; 2, 2i =| 1, 1; 1, 1i

where the coupled representation is on the left. we apply J− on the left and J1− + J2− on
the right. we get
p p p
(2 + 2)(2 − 2 + 1) | 1, 1; 2, 1i = (1 + 1)(1 − 1 + 1) | 1, 1; 0, 1i+ (1 + 1)(1 − 1 + 1) | 1, 1; 1, 0i

Thus r r
1 1
| 1, 1; 2, 1i = | 1, 1; 0, 1i + | 1, 1; 1, 0i (19)
2 2
Further application of J− = J1− + J2− gives

√ 1 √ √ 1 √ √
r r
6 | 1, 1, 2, 0i = ( 2 | 1, 1; −1, 1i + 2 | 1, 1, 0, 0i) + ( 2 | 1, 1; 0, 0i + 2 | 1, 1, 1, −1i)
2 2
√
r
1
| 1, 1, 2, 0i = [| 1, 1; 1, −1i + 2 | 1, 1, 0, 0i) + 2 | 1, 1; −1, 1i] (20)
6
The state with j = 1, m = 1 is orthogonal to the state (19). Using the sign convention
discussed above r r
1 1
| 1, 1; 1, 1i = | 1, 1; 1, 0i − | 1, 1; 0, 1i (21)
2 2
An application of J− = J1− + J2− on (21) gives
r r
1 1
| 1, 1; 1, 0i = | 1, 1; 1, −1i − | 1, 1; −1, 1i (22)
2 2
It may be noted that in the above state there is no contribution from m1 = m2 = 0 state
to m = 1 state.
Now the state | 1, 1; 0, 0i is orthogonal to both (20) and (22). Let the state be written as

| 1, 1; 0, 0i = a | 1, 1; 1, −1i + b | 1, 1; 0, 0i + c | 1, 1; −1, 1i

12
where a, b and c are constants to be determined. Since the state is orthogonal tio (22),
we have a = c. Orthogonality to (20) gives a + 2b + c = 0. Solving, we get b = −c. Thus
the state is
| 1, 1; 0, 0i = a[| 1, 1; 1, −1i− | 1, 1; 0, 0i+ | 1, 1; −1, 1i]
1
The constant a is determined to be √ by normalization of the state. Thus we get
3
1
| 1, 1; 0, 0i = √ [| 1, 1; 1, −1i− | 1, 1; 0, 0i+ | 1, 1; −1, 1i]
3
Collecting the above results together, we get the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients to be given
by
m = 2, 1

h1, 1; 2, 2 | 1, 1; 1, 1i = 1
1
h1, 1; 2, 1 | 1, 1; 1, 0i = √
2
1
h1, 1; 2, 1 | 1, 1; 0, 1i = √
2
1
h1, 1; 1, 1 | 1, 1; 1, 0i = √
2
1
h1, 1; 1, 1 | 1, 1; 0, 1i = − √
2

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m = 0:
1
h1, 1; 2, 0 | 1, 1; 1, −1i = √
6
r
2
h1, 1; 2, 0 | 1, 1; 0, 0i =
3
1
h1, 1; 2, 0 | 1, 1; −1, 1i = √
6
1
h1, 1; 1, 0 | 1, 1; 1, −1i = √
2
1
h1, 1; 1, 0 | 1, 1; −1, 1i = − √
2
1
h1, 1; 0, 0 | 1, 1; 1, −1i = √
3
1
h1, 1; 0, 0 | 1, 1; 0, 0i = − √
3
1
h1, 1; 0, 0 | 1, 1; −1, 1i = √
3

14