Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

2 results

  • 2 - Atomic Structure and the Quantum Mechanics of Angular Momentum

  • Robert P. Lucht, Purdue University, Indiana
  • Book:
    Fundamentals of Laser Spectroscopy for Atoms and Diatomic Molecules
    Published online:
    12 December 2024
    Print publication:
    19 December 2024, pp 16-55

  • Summary

    The chapter begins with the introduction of the two-particle Schrödinger wave equation (SWE) and the solution of this equation for the hydrogen atom. The orbital angular momentum of the electron results from the SWE solution. The Pauli spinors are introduced, and the SWE wavefunctions are modified to account for the spin of the electron. The structure of multielectron atoms is then discussed. The discussion is focused on low-Z atoms for which Russell–Saunders or LS coupling is appropriate. Alternate coupling schemes are briefly discussed. Angular momentum coupling algebra, the Clebsch–Gordan coefficients, and 3j symbols are then introduced. The Wigner–Eckart theorem is discussed, and the use of irreducible spherical tensors for evaluation of quantum mechanical matrix elements is discussed in detail.