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Department of XYZ, University of ABC
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University of ABC

December 20, 2024

Overview of the talk

Introduction
Rotations and Angular Momentum Commutation Relations
Commutation Relations for Angular Momentum
Spin 1/2 Systems and Finite Rotations
Rotations in Pauli formalism
The Special Orthogonal Group in 3-dimensions [SO(3)]
Eigenvalues and Eigenstates of Angular Momentum
Introduction

In both classical and quantum physics, angular momentum is the

rotational counterpart of linear momentum. The framework extends into
quantum mechanics where operators represent rotations. Here specifically
discuss about
1 Commutation Relations: Fundamental equations governing angular
momentum operators, emphasizing their non-commutative nature.
2 Spin Systems: Analysis of spin- systems and their finite rotations.
3 Pauli Formalism: Utilizing Pauli matrices to describe rotations and
their matrix representations.
4 Special Orthogonal Group (SO(3)): Discussing the mathematical
structure underpinning rotations in three dimensions.
5 Eigenvalues and Eigenstates: Introducing angular momentum
operators, their commutation relations, and eigenstate properties.
 Rotations and Angular Momentum Commutation
Relations :

From elementary classical physics we know that rotations about the

same axis commute, whereas rotations about different axes do not.
Consider a vector V. When we rotate it, its components change. The
new and the old components are related via an orthogonal 3×3
matrix R as follows

Vx′
   

Vx
Vy′  = R Vy  and R · R T = R T · R = 1.
Vz′ Vz

For a rotation around z-axis angle ϕ is taken as positive when the

rotation in question is counterclockwise in the xy -plane as viewed
from the positive z-side.
With the above conventions we have the matrix Rz (ϕ) for the
rotations around z-axis
 
cosϕ −sinϕ 0
Rz (ϕ) =  sinϕ cosϕ 0 .
0 0 1
By cyclic permutation of x, y, z, i.e. x → y , y → z, z → x we get the
matrices for rotations around x, and y axes by an angle ϕ.
   
1 0 0 cosϕ 0 sinϕ
Rx (ϕ) = 0 cosϕ −sinϕ Rz (ϕ) =  0 1 0 
0 sinϕ cosϕ −sinϕ 0 cosϕ

Infinitesimal Rotations in Quantum Mechanics:

We assign to a rotation operation R (represented by a 3×3 orthogonal
matrix) an operator D(R) in the appropriate ket space such:
|α⟩R = D(R)|α⟩
where |α⟩R and |α⟩ stand for the kets of the rotated and original
system
More generally for a rotation about the direction characterized by the
unit vector by an infinitesimal angle dϕ we have:
D(n̂, dϕ) = 1 − i( J·n̂
ℏ )dϕ
Finite Rotations in Quantum Mechanics:
We consider For every rotation represented by a 3×3 orthogonal
matrix R there exists a rotation operator D(R) in the appropriate ket
space such as:
" ! !#N
Jz ϕ
Dz (ϕ) = lim 1 − i
N→∞ ℏ N
!
−iJz ϕ .
= exp
ℏ
iJz ϕ Jz2 ϕ2
=1− − +···
ℏ 2ℏ2
CommutationRelations for Angular Momentum:

The fundamental commutation relations of angular

momentumis:
[Ji , Jj ] = iℏϵijk Jk
Where, ϵijk =1, if (ijk) is an even permutation of (xyz)
= 1, if (ijk) is an odd permutation of (xyz)
=0, if any two of (ijk) are equal
We must emphasize that the above relation has been obtained using
the following two concepts:
1 Jk is the generator of rotation about the kth axis
2 Rotations about different axes are not commute.
 1
Spin 2 Systems and Finite Rotations:

The lowest number N, of dimensions in which the angular-momentum

commutation relations are realized is N=2. We can prove that the
following operator really rotates the system:
!
−iSz ϕ
Dz (ϕ) = exp ℏ

The expectation values of the spin operator behaves as though it were

a classical vector under rotation:
P
⟨Sk ⟩ → i Rkl ⟨Sl ⟩
Rotations in Pauli formalism:

With the help of Pauli matrices we can write rotation opertaor as:
   
exp − iS·n̂ϕ
ℏ = exp −i σ·n̂ϕ
2
which can be written as:
     
exp −i σ·n̂ϕ
2 = 1 · cos ϕ
2 − i(σ · n̂) sin ϕ
2
or in a matrix form:
       
ϕ
  cos 2 − inz sin ϕ2 (−inx − ny )sin ϕ2
exp −i σ·n̂ϕ
2 =       
(−inx + ny )sin ϕ2 cos ϕ2 + inz sin ϕ2
The Special Orthogonal Group in 3-dimensions [SO(3)]:

The collection of all multiplication operations with orthogonal

matrices form the group SO(3), where O → is orthogonal, 3 → is
three dimensions, and S → is special (indicating that the matrix has a
determinant of 1).
Properties:
1 closure: For any two orthogonal matrices R1 and R2 , the product
R3 = R1 R2 , is also orthogonal. The combination of two rotations is
also a rotation.
2 identity: The 3 × 3 unit matrix acts as an identity element for the
group. i.e, 1R = R1 = R, physically corresponding to no rotation.
3 inverse: Each element has an inverse R −1 = R T , R T R = RR T = 1,
physically corresponding to rotation in the opposite sense.
4 associativity: R1 (R2 R3 = (R1 R2 )R3
Eigenvalues and Eigenstates of Angular Momentum:

the angular momentum operator J that is defined by its three

components Jˆx ,Jˆy and Jˆz , and satisfy the following commutation
relations :
[Jˆx , Jˆy ] = iℏJˆz , [Jˆy , Jˆz ] = iℏJˆx , [Jˆz , Jˆx ] = iℏJˆy ,
since Jˆx , Jˆy , and Jˆz do not mutually commute and
[Jˆ2 , Jˆk ] = 0, [where, k = x, y , z]
Eigenstates and eigenvalues of the angular momentum operator:
Jˆ2 |j, m⟩ = ℏ2 j(j + 1)|j, m⟩
Jˆz |j, m⟩ = ℏm|j, m⟩
where j = 0, 1/2, 1, 3/2, · · · and m = −j, −(j − 1), · · · , (j − 1), j
Feature Work