Introduction to Quantum

Theory of Angular Momentum

1
Angular Momentum

AM begins to permeate QM when you

move from 1-d to 3-d
This discussion is based on postulating
rules for the components of AM
Discussion is independent of whether
spin, orbital angular momenta, or total
momentum.

2
Definition

An angular momentum, J, is a linear

operator with 3 components (Jx, Jy, Jz)
whose commutation properties are defined
as

J J i J

3
Or in component form

J y J z J z J y i J x
J z J x J x J z i J y
J x J y J y J x i J z

4
Convention

Jz is diagonal
1 0
J z
For example: 2 0 1

1 0 0

J z 0 0 0
0 0 1

5
Therefore

J z j m m j m
Where |jm> is an eigenket
h-bar m is an eigenvalue

For a electron with spin up

1 1 1 1 1
J z , ,
2 2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1 1
Or spin down J z , ,
2 2 2 2 2
6
Definition

J J J J
2 2
x
2
y
2
z

These Simple Definitions

have some major
consequences!

7
THM

J , J 0
2
i where i x, y, z
Proof:

J 2
, Jx J x
2
, J J
x y
2
, J J
x z
2
, Jx
Recall A, BC A, B C B A, C
J , J J , J J J J , J J , J J J J , J
x
2
x y y y x y x z z z x z

J , J iJ J J (iJ ) (iJ ) J J (iJ )

x
2
z y y z y z z y

J , J 0
x
2
QED
8
Raising and Lowering Operators
Lowering Operator

J J x iJ y
Raising Operator

J J x iJ y

9
Product of J and J+

2 2
JJ J x J y iJ y J x iJ x J y
2 2
JJ J x J y i[ J x , J y ]
2 2
JJ J x J y J z
and obviously,
2 2
J J J x J y J z

10
Fallout

2 2
JJ J J 2( J x J y )
2
JJ J J 2( J J z )
2

1 2
(JJ J J) J z J 2
2
and the difference,
[ J ,J ] 2J z

11
Proof that J is the lowering operator
J z J jm J z ( J x iJ y ) jm
J z J jm ( J z J x iJ z J y ) jm
from 1st definition , J z J y J y J z iJ x
J z J j m [( J x J z iJ y ) i ( J y J z iJ x )] j m
and J z j m m j m
J z J j m [(mJ x iJ y ) (imJ y iJ x )] j m
J z J j m (m 1)( J x iJ y ) j m It is a lowering operator
since it works on a state
J z J j m (m 1) J j m with an eigenvalue, m, and
produces a new state with
J z J j m (m 1) j m 1 eigenvalue of m-1
12
[J2,Jz]=0 indicates J2 and Jz are
simultaneous observables

J 2 j m 2 j m
2 2
(J x J y ) j m (J J ) j m
2 2
z
2 2
( J x J y ) j m ( m ) j m
2 2 2

Since Jx and Jy are Hermitian, they must have real

eigenvalues so -m2 must be positive!

is both an upper and LOWER limit to m!

13
Let msmall=lower bound on m and
let mlarge=upper bound on m

J j mlarge 0
J j msmall 0

JJ j mlarge 0
J J j msmall 0
( J x2 J y2 J z ) j mlarge 0
( J J J z ) j msmall 0
2
x
2
y
( J 2 J z2 J z ) j mlarge 0
( J 2 J z2 J z ) j msmall 0
J 2 j mlarge 2 (m large
2
m large ) j m large
J 2 j msmall 2 (msmall
2
msmall ) j msmall

2
msmall m small ml2arg e m l arg e
1 ml arg e mlarge cannot any larger
msmall
ml arg e

14
Final Relation
J 2 j mlarge 2 (m large
2
m large ) j m large

J 2 j mlarge 2 m large (m large 1) j m large

and for msmall
J 2 j msmall 2 msmall (msmall 1) j msmall
msmall mlarge
J 2 j msmall 2 ( mlarge )( mlarge 1) j msmall
J 2 j msmall 2 mlarge (mlarge 1) j msmall

So the eigenvalue is mlarge*(mlarge +1) for any value of m

J 2
j m j ( j 1) j m
2

15
Four Properties

1) J 2
j m j ( j 1) j m
2

2) m j , j 1, , j 1, j
3) Exactly (2 j 1) values possible
4) Since (2 j 1) integer , then
j 0 , 1 , 1 , 3 , 2 ,
2 2

16
Conclusions

As a result of property 2), m is called the

projection of j on the z-axis
m is called the magnetic quantum
number because of the its importance in
the study of atoms in a magnetic field
Result 4) applies equally integer or half-
integer values of spin, or orbital angular
momentum

17
END OF LECTURE 1

18
Matrix Elements of J

j m J 2 j m 2 j ( j 1) m ,m Indicates a diagonal
matrix
j m J z j m m m ,m

J j m c j m 1 and j m ( J 2 J z2 J z ) j m c
2

jm J c* j m 1 j m ( j ( j 1) 2 2 m 2 2 m) j m c
2

2
jm J J jm c c c * 2
( j ( j 1) m 2 m) 2 c
2
but J J ( J J J z )
2 2
z
c ( j m)( j m 1) 2

19
Theorems
J j m ( j m)( j m 1) j m 1
and

J j m ( j m)( j m 1) j m 1

And we can make matrices of the eigenvalues, but these matrices are
NOT diagonal

j m 1 J j m ( j m)( j m 1) m ,m 1
and
j m 1 J
j m ( j m)( j m 1) m ,m 1

20
Fun with the Raising and Lowering
Operators

J J
J J x iJ y Jx
2

( J - J )i
J
J x iJ y Jy
2

21
A matrix approach to Eigenvalues

If j=0, then all elements are zero! B-O-R-I-N-G!

m1 m2 Initial m
j= 1/2 m1
final m
m2
11 1 1 1 0 so

22 0 2 2 1 1 1
2 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
J 1 0 0
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
1
J 0
2 2 2 2 2
and
Therefore ,
1 1 1 1 What does
J
2 2 2 2 0 0 J+ look like?
J
1 0
22
Using our relations,
Answer: J J
0 1
Jx Pauli Spin Matrices
2 2 1 0
0 1
J and
0 1
0 0 (J J )i 0 i

x
Jy
2 2i 0 1 0
and finally , 0 i
y
1 0
Jz i 0
2 0 1
1 0
z
0 1
3 2
1 0
J
2

4 0 1
23
J=1, An Exercise for the Students

Hint:
1 0 0

11 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
0 0 1

0 0 0

J 2 1 0 0
0 1 0

24
Rotation Matices
We want to show how to rotate
eigenstates of angular momentum
First, lets look at translation
For a plane wave:

( x) eik x x for 1 d
px
since k x then for 3 d


(r p)
i
(r ) e

25
A translation by a distance, A, then
looks like

( r a ) p a p
i i
(r a ) e
( r )e

translation operator

Rotations about a given axis commute, so a

finite rotation is a sequence of infinitesimal
rotations

Now we need to define an operator for rotation

that rotates by amount, , in direction of
26
So
if x , then x J x
so a rotation operator looks like :

( n ) J
i
U (n, ) e

Where n-hat points along the axis of rotation

Suppose we rotated through an angle about the z-axis

J z
i
U ( z, ) e

27
Using a Taylor (actually Maclaurin)
series expansion
x 2 x3
e 1 x
x

2! 3!
so
iJ z
U ( z, ) j m e
jm
n
i J z
n
U ( z, ) j m jm
n0 n !
J zn j m m j m
n
but
i m
n n
U ( z, ) j m jm
n0 n!
U ( z , ) j m e im j m
so
U ( z , ) e im

28
What if = 2?
U ( z ,2 ) j m e 2im j m
U ( z ,2 ) j m j m "" for j 0, 1, 2, 3,
1 3 5 7
"" for j , , , ,
The nave expectation is 2 2 2 2
that thru 2 and no
change.

This is true only if j=

integer. This is called
symmetric

BUT for integer, this is

not true and is called
anti-symmetric

29
Let j=1/2 (for convenience it could
be any value of j)
0 1
Jx
2 1 0
0 1 0 1 2 1 0 2
J x
2
1
2 1 0 2 1 0 4 0 1 4
3 0 1 4
J x
3
Jx 1
4

8 1 0 16

i 1
U ( x, ) ( J x )n
n0 n!
i 0 1 2 1 0 i 3 0 1 4 1 0
U ( x, ) 1 2 3 4
2 1 0 2 2! 0 1 2 3! 1 0 2 4! 0 1
1 0 2 4
U ( x, ) 1 2 4
0 1 2 2! 2 4!
0 1 3 5
i 3 5
1 0 2 2 3! 2 5!

30
Using the sine and cosine relation
x3 x5 x2 x4
sin x x and cos x 1
3! 5! 2! 4!
so

cos i sin
U ( x, ) 2 2 and if 2 , U ( x,2 ) 1 0
0 1
i sin cos

2 2
And it should be no surprise, that a rotation of around the y-axis is

cos sin
U ( y, ) 2 2
sin
cos
2 2

31
Consequences
If one rotates around y-axis, all real numbers
Whenever possible, try to rotate around z-
axis since operator is a scalar
If not possible, try to arrange all non-diagonal
efforts on the y-axis
Matrix elements of a rotation about the y-axis
are referred to by

d m m ( )
j

32
And d mj m ( ) j m U ( y, ) j m

Example :
11 1

22 0
then

cos sin
2 1
1
d 1 1 ( ) 1 0
2 2

22 sin cos 0
2 2
1

d 1 1 ( ) cos
2

22 2

Wigners Formula (without proof)

(1) k (cos ) 2 j mm '2 k (sin ) m ' m 2 k
d mj m ( ) ( j m)!( j m)!( j m' )!( j m)'! 2 2
k ( j m' k )!( j m k )!( k m' m)! k!

33
Certain symmetry properties of d functions are useful
in reducing labor and calculating rotation matrix

d mj m ' ( ) (1) m m ' d mj ' m ( )

d j
m' m ( ) d j
m'm ( )
d j
m'm ( ) (1) j m'
d j
m'm ( )
1
2
d ( ) d ( ) d (cos ) j j'
j j'
m m' m m'
1
2 j 1

34
Coupling of Angular Momenta

We wish to couple J1 and J2

J1 J 2 J 3
From Physics 320 and 321, we know
j1 j2 j3 j1 j2

2 3 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
But since Jz is diagonal, m3=m1+m2

35
Coupling contd
The resulting eigenstate j3 m3
is called
And is assumed to be
capable of expansion of
series of terms each of
with is the product of 2
angular momentum
eigenstates conceived of
riding in 2 different
vector spaces
Such products are called j1 m1 j2 m2
direct products

36
Coupling contd
The separateness of
spaces is most apparent
when 1 term is orbital
angular momentum and
the other is spin
Because of the
separateness of spaces,
the direct product is
commutative
The product is
sometimes written as
j1 m1 j2 m2

37
Proof of commutative property

Let c a b a b
cc a b a b a a b b
cc b b a a b a b a
c b a b a

38
The expansion is written as

j3 m3 Cmj11 mj22 j3 j1 m1 j2 m2
m1

j1 j2 j3
C m1 m2
Is called the Clebsch-Gordan coefficient
Or Wigner coefficient
Or vector coupling coefficient

Some make the C-G coefficient look like an inner product, thus

Take j3 m3 Cmj11 mj22 j3 j1 m1 j2 m2 and multiply by j1 m1 j2 m2

m1

and thus j1 j2 j3 m1 m2 j3 m3 Cmj11 mj22 j3

39
A simple formula for C-G coefficients

Cmj11 mj22 j3 j3 j1 j2 ! j3 j1 j2 ! j1 j2 j3 ! j3 m3 ! j3 m3 ! 2 j3 1
(1) k j2 m2 ( j3 j2 m1 k )! ( j1 m1 k )!
k ( j j j k )! j m k ! k! (k j j m )!
3 1 2 3 3 1 2 3

Proceeds over all integer values of k

Begin sum with k=0 or (j1-j2-m3) (which ever is larger)
Ends with k=(j3-j1-j2) or k=j3+m3 (which ever is smaller)
Always use Stirlings formula log (n!)= n*log(n)

Best approach: use a table!!!

40
 What if I dont have a table?
And Im afraid of the simple formula?

Well, there is another path a 9-step

path!

41
9 Steps to Success

1. Get your values of j1 and j2

2. Identify possible values of j3
3. Begin with the stretched cases where
j1+j2=j3 and m1=j1, m2=j2 , and m3=j3,
thus |j3 m3>=|j1 m1>|j2 m2>
4. From J3=J1+J2,, it follows that the
lowering operator can be written as
J3=J1+J2
42
9 Steps to Success, contd
5. Operate J3|j3 m3>=(J1+J2 )|j1 m1>|j2 m2>
Use
6.
j m 1 J j m ( j m)( j m 1)
7. Continue to lower until j3=|j1-j2|, where m1=-j1 , m2=
-j2, and m3= -j3
8. Construct |j3 m3 > = |j1+j2 -1 j1+j2-1> so that it is
orthogonal to |j1+j2 j1+j2-1>
Adopt convention of Condon and Shortley,
if j1 > j2 and m1 > m2 then
Cm1 m2j1 j2 j3 > 0
(or if m1 =j1 then coefficient positive!)

43
9 Steps to Success, contd

9. Continue lowering and orthogonalizin until

complete!
Now isnt that easier?
And much simpler

You dont believe me Im hurt.

I know! How about an example?
44
A CG Example: j1 =1/2 and j2 =1/2

Step 1 1 1
In CG speak :
2 2
so
Step 2 1 1 1 1
j3 j3
2 2 2 2
The stretched case is
Step 3 11 11
11 3
22 1 22 2

45
Steps 4 and 5 and
6-> j m 1 J j m ( j m)( j m 1)

11 11 11 11 11 11
J 3 11 3 ( J 1 J 2 ) J1 J2
22 1 22 2 22 1 22 2 22 1 22 2

One step at a time

J 3 1 1 3 (1 1)(1 1 1) 1 0 3 2 1 0 3

Now J 1 only operates on space 1 stuff and J 2 only operates on space 2 stuff so
11 11 1 1 11
J1 1
22 1 22 2 2 2 1 22 2

11 11 11 1 1
J2 1
22 1 22 2 22 1 2 2 2

so
1 1 11 11 1 1
2 1 0 3 1 1
2 2 1 22 2 22 1 2 2 2

1 1 1 11 11 1 1
10 3
2 2 2 1 22 2 22 1 2 2 2

46
Step 7Keep lowering

J 3 1 0 3 (1 0)(1 0 1) 1 1 3 2 1 1 3
1 1 11
J1 0
2 2 1 22 2

1 1 11 11 1 1
J2 1
2 2 1 22 2 22 1 2 2 2

so
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 1 1 3
2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2
As low as
2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 1 1 3 2 we go
2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
1 1 3
2 2 1 2 2 2

47
An aside to simplify notation
11 1 1
Let and
22 2 2
Now we have derived 3 symmetric states

11
1
10 Note these are also
symmetric from the
2 standpoint that we can
permute space 1 and space
11 2
Which is 1? Which is 2?
I am not a number; I am a
free man!

48
The infamous step 8

Construct |j3 m3 > = |j1+j2 -1 j1+j2-1> so

that it is orthogonal to |j1+j2 j1+j2-1>
j1+j2=1 and j1+j2-1=0 for this case so we
want to construct a vector orthogonal to
|1 0>
The new vector will be |0 0>

49
Performing Step 8
10
1

1 2 1 2

2
1 2 1 2
An orthogonal vector to this could be
or
1 2 1 2

Must obey Condon and Shortley: if m1=j1,, then positive value

j1=1/2 and |+> represents m= , so only choice is

00
1

1 2 1 2

2

50
Step 9 The End

11

10
1
00
1

1 2 1 2

2 2
1 1

This state is anti-symmetric

These three symmetric states and is called the singlet
are called the triplet states. state. If we permute space 1
They are symmetric to any and space 2, we get a wave
permutation of the spaces function that is the negative of
the original state.

51
A CG Table look up Problem

Part 1
Two particles of spin 1 are at rest in a
configuration where the total spin is 1
and the m-component is 0. If you
measure the z-component of the second
particle, what values of might you get
and what is the probability of each z-
component?

52
CG Helper Diagram

j3

j1 j2 m3

m1 m2
C
It is understood that a C means
square root of C (i.e. all radicals
omitted)

53
Solution to Part 1
Look at 1 x 1 table
Find j3 = 1 and m3 = 0
There 3 values under these

m1 m2
1 -1 1/2
0 0 0
-1 1 -1/2

54
So the final part

m2 C Prob

-1 1/2

0 0 0

1 -1/2

55
Part 2

An electron is spin up in a state, ,

where 5 is the principle quantum
number, 2 is orbital angular momentum,
and 1 is the z-component.
If you could measure the angular
momentum of the electron alone, what
values of j could you get and their
probabilities?

56
Solution
Look at the 2 x table since electron is spin
and orbital angular momentum is 2
Now find the values for m1=1 and m2=1/2
There are two values across from these:
4/5 which has j3 = 5/2
-1/5 which has j3 = 3/2
So j3=5/2 has probability of 4/5
So j3 = 3/2 has probability of 1/5

57