Total Angular Momentum for a Spin 1/2 Particle

~ with the spin angular mo-

(adding the orbital angular momentum L
mentum S ~ for s = 1 )
2
We discuss the addition of two angular momenta for the particular case J~1 = L
~ and J~2 = S
~
1
(s = ).
2

• The orbital angular momentum J~1 = L:

~

j1 = l = 0, 1, 2, . . . ; m1 = −l, −l + 1, . . . , 0, 1, . . . , l; (1)

~ 2 |l m1 i = l(l + 1)~2 |l m1 i ,
L
(2)
Lz |l m1 i = m1 ~ |l m1 i ,
where
|l m1 i = Ylm1 (θ, φ) (3)
are the spherical harmonics.
p
L+ |l m1 i = (l − m1 )(l + m1 + 1)~ |l m1 + 1i ,
p (4)
L− |l m1 i = (l + m1 )(l − m1 + 1)~ |l m1 − 1i .

~ for s = 1 :
• The spin angular momentum S
2
1 1 1
j2 = s = ; m2 = − , + ; (5)
2 2 2
   
~ 2 1 1 3 2  1 1

S  ± = ~  ± ,
2 2 4 2 2
    (6)
1 1 1 1 1
Sz  ± = ± ~  ± .
2 2 2 2 2
     
1 1 1 1 1 1
S−  + = ~  − , S−  − = 0,
2 2 2 2 2 2
      (7)
1 1 1 1 1 1
S+  − = ~  + , S+  + = 0.
2 2 2 2 2 2

• The total angular momentum J~ will be given by:

J~ = L
~ ⊗ IS + IL2 ⊗ S.
~ (8)

According to the Clebsch-Gordan theorem, the quantum numbers j that give the eigen-
values of the operator J~2 are (j = |j1 − j2 | , |j1 − j2 + 1| , . . . , j1 + j2 ):

1
 1
• j = , if l = 0 (s1/2 );
2
1 1 1 3
• j = l − , l + , if l 6= 0 (e.g. for l = 1 ⇒ j = , and we have p1/2 and p3/2 ).
2 2 2 2
The two possible vector bases are described by
 
 1
• l ; j m , where m = −j, −j + 1, . . . , j

2
and
   
 1 1
• l ; m1 m2 = |l m1 i ⊗  m2 .
2 2
The vectors of the bases are connected with the help of Clebsch-Gordan (CG) coefficients:
   
 1 X l1j 1
l ; j m =
 2 Cm1 m2 m |l m1 i ⊗  m2 , where m = m1 + m2 .
2  (9)
m ,m
2
1 2

For a given m:
1 1
 
 m1 = m − ,
  m1 = m + ,

2 ∨ 2 (10)
1
 m2 = + ,
  m2 = − .
 1
2 2
In this case, the normalization condition is:
 1 2  1 2 1
X 
j1 j2 j  2
  l2j  l2j
 Cm = 1 ⇔ C + C
 m+ 1 − 1 m  = 1, for j = l ± . (11)
 
1 m2 m
 m− 1 1 m 
m1 ,m2 22 2 2 2
m1 +m2 =m

For the non-trivial case when l 6= 0, we distinguish in between the two possible types of
values for j.
1
I. j = l +
2
Taking into account the possible combinations of m1 and m2 as given in (10), equation
(9) reads:
         
 1
l ; l + 1 m = C l 2 l+1 21 l m − 1 ⊗ 1 + 1 +C l 2 l+1 2 1 l m + 1 ⊗ 1 − 1 . (12)
1 1   1 1  
 2 2 m− 2 2 m  2 2 2 m+ 2 − 2 m  2 2 2
1 1 1 1
The possible values of m are −l − , −l + , . . . , l + and one has 2(l + ) + 1 = 2(l + 1)
2 2 2 2
vectors in the basis.
1
II. j = l −
2
Taking into account the possible combinations of m1 and m2 as given in (10), equation
(9) reads:
         
 1 1 l 12 l− 21  1 1 1 l 12 l− 12  1 1 1
l ; l − m = C 1 1 l m − ⊗ + +Cm+ 1 − 1 m l m + ⊗ − . (13)
 2 2 m− 2 2 m  2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

2
 1 3 1 1
The possible values of m are −l + , −l + , . . . , l − and one has 2(l − ) + 1 = 2l vectors
2 2 2 2
in the basis.

Task: Determine the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients.

Guidelines: Start by employing any method (recurrence relations between CG-coefficients,

l 1 l+ 1
lowering operator, etc.) to determine the general expression of Cm−
2 2
1 1
m
. Use the normalization
2 2
l 12 l+ 12
condition to determine Cm+ 1 − 1 m . Once you have all the CG-coefficients from equation (12),
2 2    
 1 1  1 1
employ the orthogonality of the vectors l ; l + m and l ; l − m together with the
 
2 2 2 2
normalization condition of the last one. The two equations will provide the general expression
of the remaining coefficients.
Below, you will find the main steps to follow.

1 1 1 1
I. j = l + ⇒ m = −l − , −l + , . . . , l +
2 2 2 2
In Figure 1, one has the m1 -m2 representation of the CG-coefficients. The blue (solid)
lines connect the sets of coefficients related by the normalization relation, i.e. that fulfill
1 1
equation (11). Note that for m = l + and m = −l − , there is just one possible
2 2
combination of m1 + m2 = m from the list of possible values (1) and (5) and therefore,
just one CG-coefficient.

1
Figure 1: Graphical representation of all possible CG-coefficients for j = l + .
2

Among the several alternatives to determine the general expression of the coefficient

3
 l 1 l+ 1
Cm−
2 2
1 1
m
, one can employ repeatedly the recurrence relation derived from J− , i.e.
2 2

p j1 j2 j
p j1 j2 j
(j + m)(j − m + 1)Cm 1 m2 m−1
= (j1 + m1 + 1)(j1 − m1 )Cm 1 +1m2 m
p j1 j2 j
+ (j2 + m2 + 1)(j2 − m2 )Cm 1 m2 +1m
, (14)

with the graphical representation given in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Graphical representation of the recurrence relation for CG-coefficients derived from J− .

l 1 l+ 1
As a reference coefficient, one can choose Cl 12l+ 12 , marked in Figure 1 with A.
2 2

1 1
• m=l+ ⇒ just one combination of m1 and m2 that sums to l + , namely
2 2

 m1 = l,
 m2 = + 1 .
2
The normalization condition (11) implies that
 1 1 2  1 1
 l 2 l+ 2   l 2 l+ 2  l 1 l+ 1
Cl 1 l+ 1  = 1 ⇒ Cl 1 l+ 1  ≡ Cl 12l+ 12 = 1. (15)
2 2 2 2 2 2

We employ the notation

1
m=l+ , (16)
2
such that
l 1 l+ 1 l 1 l+ 1
Cl 12l+ 12 ≡ Cm−
2 2
1 1
m
= 1. (17)
2 2 2 2

For the next step, we apply the recurrence relation (14) to the left, as sketched in
Figure 1. m will decrease with one unit. Note that the coefficient in the upper corner
of the triangle for J− does not exist, therefore the corresponding term in (14) will
cancel.
1 1
• m=l+ −1=l−
2 2

4
 1 1
From (14), for j1 = l, j2 = and j = l + , we have
2 2
r
1 1 l 12 l+ 12
(l + + m)(l + − m + 1)Cm− 1
−1 12 m−1
=
2 2 2
r
1 1 l 12 l+ 12
(l + m − − 1 + 1)(l − m + + 1)Cm− 1 1
m
+ 0. (18)
2 2 2 2

1
The role of m1 is played by m − − 1. From (16), one can notice that the first factor
2
in the first square root is l + 12 + m = 2l + 1∗ . If we replace the second coefficient
with its value from (17), i.e. 1, we obtain
s
1 1
l 2 l+ 2 l + m − 1 + 21
Cm− 1 1
−1 2 m−1
= . (19)
2 2l + 1

The terms of the numerator were written in a manner that facilitates the further
identification of the general term.
We make one step further, applying one more time the recurrence relation.
1 3
• m=l+ −2=l−
2 2
r
1 1 l 12 l+ 12
(l + + m − 1)(l + − m + 1 + 1)Cm− 1
−2 12 m−2
=
2 2 2
r
1 1 l 12 l+ 12
(l + m − − 2 + 1)(l − m + + 2)Cm− 1
−1 12 m−1
+ 0 (20)
2 2 2

The upper coefficient in the triangle is again 0. The role of m1 from equation (14) is
1
played by m − − 2, while instead of m, we have m − 1.
2
Replacing the value of the CG-coefficient determined at the previous step, one gets:
s
1 1
l 2 l+ 2 l + m − 2 + 21
Cm− 1 1
−2 2 m−2
= . (21)
2 2l + 1

If we apply k times the recursive relation (14), we get

1
• m=l+ −k
2 s
1 1
l 2 l+ 2 l + m − k + 21
Cm− 1 1
−k 2 m−k
= . (22)
2 2l + 1
The last relation must be proven by induction.
∗
We make the replacement only in this factor. In all the other ones we keep the notation from (16).

5
 If we substitute m − k with m, one can deduce that for any given m:
s
l 12 l+ 12 l + m + 12
Cm− 1 1
m
= , (23)
2 2 2l + 1

having thus, the general expression of the first coefficient from (12).
Deduce the second coefficient using the normalization condition (11). The condition is
derived from   
1 1  1 1
l ; l + m l ; l + m = 1. (24)
2 2 2 2
However, one should determine the sign of the coefficient in connection with the choice
l 21 l+ 21
made for Cm− 1 1
m
. One can analyse, for example, a particular situation and apply the
2 2
l, 1 ,l+ 1 l, 1 ,l+ 1 l, 1 ,l+ 1
recursion relation for Cl, 12,l+ 12 , Cl−1,
2
1
2
,l− 1
and Cl,−2 1 ,l−2 1 (employ the recursive relation for
2 2 2 2 2 2
J+ ).
1 1 3 1
II. j = l − ⇒ m = −l + , −l + , . . . , l −
2 2 2 2
The m1 -m2 representation of the CG-coefficients is given in Figure 3. Note that in the
upper right corner, as well as in the lower left one, there are no CG-coefficients because
m largest and smallest values are with one unit lower.

1
Figure 3: Graphical representation of all possible CG-coefficients for j = l − .
2

If one wants to apply a similar method to the one presented above, it will need to employ
l 12 l− 21 l 12 l− 12
the recursive relation for J+ for the coefficients A= Cl−1 1
l− 1 and B= C
l− 1 l− 1
. The third
2 2 2 2
coefficient in the relation (corresponding to the right angle) is 0. A second equation for
the unknowns A and B can be given by the normalization condition (11). Once the two
coefficients are determined, one can apply again the J− relation (14) for the upper set of
coefficients and proceed as before.

6
 However, if we take into account the orthogonalization relation of the vectors, we have
l 12 l− 12
a faster method to determine the general expression of the coefficients Cm− 1 1
m
and
2 2
l 12 l− 12
Cm+ 1 − 1 m . A set of equations that provides a solution (up to a sign and a phase) is:
2 2

  
1 1  1 1   1 1 ∗ 1 1
l 2 l+ 2 l 2 l− 2
 1 1 ∗ 1 1
l 2 l+ 2 l 2 l− 2
 l 2; l +

 m l ; l − m = 0,  C C + C C = 0,
2 2 2  m− 1 1
2 2
m m− 1 1
2 2
m m+ 1
2
− 1
2
m m+ 1
2
− 21 m
   ⇔  1 1 2  1 1 2
1 1  1 1   l 2 l− 2   l 2 l− 2 
Cm− 1 1 m  + Cm+  = 1.

 l ;l −
 m l ; l − m = 1,  1
− 21 m
2 2 2 2 2 2 2

(25)
l 1 l− 1
Choose Cm−
2 2
1 1
m
negative.
2 2

At the end, replace all the coefficients in equations (12) and (13) and provide their final
expressions.