Quantum Theory of Angular Momentum

5
Addition of
Angular Momentum

This module covers the formal theory of angular

momentum addition, introduction to the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients and the
Clebsch-Gordan series.

INTRODUCTION
As we have seen in the previous modules, components of angular
momentum do not commute with each other. So adding angular momenta is not a
simple matter of adding each component separately since the components cannot
be determined accurately at the same time. It is however possible to measure the
magnitude and one of the components at the same time, and using this concept,
we shall proceed to develop the theory of angular momentum addition.

In particular, we note that given two angular momenta J1 and J2 with

quantum numbers j1 and j1 respectively, the maximum value of the component
along the simultaneously observable component Jz1 and Jz2 correspond
respectively to the quantum numbers m1 = j1 and m2 = j2. Invoking the concept of
linear independence, we may add the z-components of the angular momentum
independently from the other components. Hence, the maximum value of Jz = Jz1
+ Jz2 should correspond to a quantum number m = m1 + m2 = j1 + j2, whereby both
components are directed in the same way. A minimum value of m = m1 + m2 = -(
j1 + j2) may be obtained in a similar manner. It is also possible that the z
components of the two angular momenta are directed opposite each other. In this
case, the maximum m = m1 + m2 would equal | j1 - j2|. From the foregoing
discussion, it is evident that in adding two angular momenta J = J1 + J2, the
quantum number j would take on values
j1 j 2 j j1 + j2
while m = m1 + m2 will take on the values
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 Quantum Theory of Angular Momentum

j, j + 1,, j 1, j
In this module, the formal theory of angular momentum addition will be
developed, with the resulting eigenkets described either by the quantum numbers
{j1, j2, m1, m2}or {j1, j2, j, m}. Relation between the two representations is
provided by the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients.

OBJECTIVES
After successfully completing this module, you will know how to:

1. add two angular momenta by evaluating the total quantum numbers j and m
given the quantum numbers j1 and j2 corresponding to the angular momenta J1
and J2.
2. represent the resulting eigenkets either in the uncoupled scheme | j1,
j2,m1,m2 or the coupled scheme | j1, j2, j, m .
3. relate the two representations of eigenkets using the Clebsch-Gordan
coefficients.
4. extend the theory of adding two angular momenta to adding three or more
angular momenta.

Formal Theory of Angular Momentum Addition

Let us consider two angular momentum operators J1 and J2 that commute

with each other. Because of their commutativity, the two operators will act on
spaces that are disjoint with each other. So if we consider the addition of these
two angular momenta J = J1 + J2, the resulting operator will act on the space:
(J space) = (J1 subspace) (J 2 subspace)
where
(J1 subspace) (J 2 subspace) = O/
The sum J is therefore strictly
J = J1 1 + 1 J 2

The angular momentum operators obey the commutation relations

[ ]
J ai , J bj = i ijk J ak ab (5.1a)
[J 2
]
, J bi = 0
a
(5.1b)
[J i , J j ] = i ijk J k (5.1c)
where a, b = 1, 2 label the two angular momentum operators in the sum. Since the
angular momentum operators act on different subspaces, we may define

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simultaneous eigenkets of J12, J22, J1z, J2z denoted by | j1, j2, m1, m2 as a direct
product of the eigenkets in the two disjoint subsets
j1 , j2 , m1 , m2 = j1m1 j2 m2 (5.2)
which satisfy the eigenvalue equations
2
J 1 j1 j 2 m1 m2 = j1 ( j1 + 1) 2 j1 j 2 m1 m2 (5.3a)
2
J 2 j1 j 2 m1m2 = j 2 ( j 2 + 1) 2 j1 j 2 m1m2 (5.3b)
J1z j1 j2 m1m2 = m1 j1 j2 m1m2 (5.3c)
J 2 z j1 j2 m1m2 = m2 j1 j2 m1m2 (5.3d)
At the same time, we note that
2 2 2
J 2 = (J 1 + J 2 ) = J 1 + J 2 + J 1 J 2 + J 2 J 1
2 2
= J 1 + J 2 + J 1z J 2 z + J 1x J 2 x + J 1 y J 2 y + J 21z J 1z + J 2 x J 1x + J 2 y J 1 y
= J 1 + J 2 + 2 J 1z J 2 z + (J 1x + iJ 1 y )(J 2 x iJ 2 y ) + (J 1x iJ 1 y )(J 2 x + iJ 2 y )
2 2

2 2
= J 1 + J 2 + 2 J 1z J 2 z + J 1+ J 2 + J 1 J 2+
so that
[J 2
] [ 2 2 2
, J 1 = J 1 + J 2 + 2 J 1z J 2 z + J 1+ J 2 + J 1 J 2+ , J 1 = 0
2
] (5.4a)
[J , J ] = [J
2
2
2
1
2 2
+ J 2 + 2 J 1z J 2 z + J 1+ J 2 + J 1 J 2+ , J 2
2
]= 0 (5.4b)
While
[J , J ] = [J
2
z 1
2 2
+ J 2 + 2 J 1z J 2 z + J 1+ J 2 + J 1 J 2+ , J 1z + J 2 z ]
= [J 1+ J 2 + J 1 J 2+ , J 1z + J 2 z ]
= ( J 1+ J 2 + J 1 J 2+ + J 1+ J 2 J 1 J 2+ )
yields

2
,Jz = 0 [J 2
] (5.4c)
J does not commute with J1z and J2z
J 2 , J 1z 0 [ ]
J 2 , J 2z 0 [ ]
(5.5)
since
[ 2 2
] [
J 2 , J 1z = J 1 + J 2 + 2 J 1z J 2 z + J 1+ J 2 + J 1 J 2+ , J 1z ]
= [J 1+ J 2 + J 1 J 2+ , J 1z ]
= ( J 1+ J 2 + J 1 J 2+ )
and
[ 2 2
] [
J 2 , J 2 z = J 1 + J 2 + 2 J 1z J 2 z + J 1+ J 2 + J 1 J 2+ , J 2 z ]
= [J 1+ J 2 + J 1 J 2+ , J 2 z ]
= (J 1+ J 2 J 1 J 2+ )
From the commutators (5.4a) to (5.4c), it is clear that we may also define
simultaneous kets of J12, J22, J2, Jz denoted by | j1, j2, j, m which are distinct from
the first set of simultaneous eigenkets | j1, j2, m1, m2 by virtue of commutation
relations (5.5). We may refer to | j1, j2, m1, m2 as the uncoupled eigenkets since
the kets are defined by quantum numbers of the individual angular momentum

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 Quantum Theory of Angular Momentum

operators and | j1, j2, j, m as coupled eigenkets since they are defined by the
quantum numbers j and m of the total angular momentum operator J.

While we may define two sets of simultaneous eigenkets, these kets refer
to the same system and are merely distinct representations of the system. The
number of eigenkets in one representation must therefore equal that of the other.
Moreover, since either set form a complete set, the two representations are related
by
j1, j 2 , j, m = j1, j 2 , m1 , m2 j1, j 2 , m1 , m2 j1, j 2 , j, m (5.6a)
m1 , m2

or conversely,
j1, j 2 , m1 , m2 = j1, j 2 , j , m j1, j 2 , j , m j1, j 2 , m1 , m2 (5.6b)
j ,m
The transformation matrix elements
j1, j2 , m1 , m2 j1, j2 , j, m
are called the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients.

The possible values of the quantum numbers j and m were mentioned in

the introduction, and these were derived by viewing the angular momentum J as a
vectorial sum of J1 and J2. Formally, we note that
J z J 1z J 2 z = 0
Thus,
(J z J1z J 2 z ) j1 , j2 , j, m =0
Multiplying j1 , j2, m1 , m2 on the left, we have
j1 , j 2 , m1 , m2 (J z J 1z J 2 z ) j1 , j 2 , j, m =
(m m1 m2 )
j1 , j 2 , m1 , m2 j1 , j 2 , j, m = 0
showing that the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients vanish unless
m = m1 + m2 (5.7)

We now invoke the fact that being two representations of the same system,
the number of eigenkets | j1, j2, j, m must equal the number of | j1, j2, m1, m2. The
uncoupled eigenkets are direct products of the eigenkets in the J1 and J2 subspaces
j1 , j2 , m1 , m2 = j1m1 j2 m2
For angular momentum J with quantum numbers j and m, m may take on values
j, j + 1,, j 1, j
Noting that j and j are separated by an integral number of steps, we find that this
integer is given by
j+n = j n = 2j
There are thus 2j steps between j and j, and counting the minimum value j,
there are 2j + 1 possible values of m.

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 Quantum Theory of Angular Momentum

There are then (2j1 + 1) |j1, m1 states and (2j2 + 1) |j2, m2 states. Being a
direct product, the number of | j1, j2, m1, m2 states is (2j1 + 1)(2j2 + 1).

Looking at the coupled representation, the number of | j1, j2, j, m states is

(2j+1) for each value of j. Since m = m1 + m2, and the maximum values of m1 and
m2 are j1 and j2, respectively, having a maximal m value j1 + j2 correspond to
having (2j1 + 2j2 +1) states, which in general is less than (2j1 + 1)(2j2 + 1). It is
clear then that j must take on more than one possible value.

It was shown in module 2 that the quantum number may take on either
integral or half-integral values. Integral spin for example corresponds to bosons
and half-integral spins to fermions. Rotational properties of integral and half-
integral angular momentum systems are also different in the sense that half-
integral systems require rotations of more than 2 to return to the original state.
There are thus two distinct types of angular momentum systems. On both
physical and mathematical grounds, two or more possible values of j that arises
from the addition of two angular momenta should conform to only one type of
angular momentum, either integral or half-integral.

Invoking that j take either integral or half-integral values, the various

values of j will differ from each other by an integer. If we now let a be the
minimum value of j and b its maximum value, and the fact that there are 2j + 1
possible m - values for each j, the number of | j1, j2, j, m states will be
b

(2 j + 1)
j =a
Noting that
N
N (N + 1)
n =
n =1 2
and
N

1 = N
n =1
we find that
b b a 1

(2 j + 1) = (2 j + 1) (2 j + 1)
j =a j =1 j =1

b(b + 1) (a 1)a
=2 +b2 (a 1)
2 2
= b 2 + 2b a 2 + 1
This may be phrased in more symmetrical form if we define
a =cd
b=c+d
so that

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 Quantum Theory of Angular Momentum

b
2 2
(2 j + 1) = (c + d )
j =a
+ 2(c + d ) (c d ) + 1

= c 2 + d 2 + 2cd + 2c + 2d c 2 d 2 + 2cd + 1
= 4cd + 2c + 2d + 1
or simply
b

(2 j + 1) = (2c + 1)(2d + 1)
j =a
Noting that j is positive definite and equating the foregoing result with the number
of | j1, j2, m1, m2 states (2j1 + 1)(2j2 + 1), we see that c is equal to the larger of j1,
j2 and d is the smaller of the two, and that the minimum and maximum values of j
are
a = j1 j 2
b = j1 + j 2
We thus conclude that for J = J1 + J2 , the resulting quantum number j may take
on values
j1 j2 , j1 j2 + 1, j1 j2 + 2,, j1 + j2 (5.8)

Clebsch-Gordan Series

Angular momentum addition may be viewed from the perspective of

rotation matrices. If we consider a rotation operators D( j1 ) ( R) and D ( j2 ) ( R) which
are generated by the angular momentum operators J1 and J2 respectively, the sum
of the two angular momenta J = J1 + J2 will generate a rotation operator
D( j1 ) (R ) D( j2 ) (R )
From the previous section, we have seen that addition of the angular momenta
results in the angular momentum quantum numbers
j1 j2 , j1 j2 + 1, j1 j2 + 2,, j1 + j2
In group theory notation, this result is reflected by
D( j1 ) D( j2 ) = D(| j1 j2 |) D(| j1 j2 |+1) D( j1 + j2 1) D( j1 + j2 ) (5.9)

In terms of rotation matrices, we note that

j1 , j 2 , m1 , m2 D( R) j1 , j 2 , m1 ' , m2 ' = j1 , m1 D( R) j1 , m1 ' j 2 , m2 D( R) j 2 , m1 '
= Dm( 1j1m)1 ' ( R)Dm( 2j2m)2 ' ( R)
Using the completeness relations of eigenkets, we have

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 Quantum Theory of Angular Momentum

j1 , j 2 , m1 , m2 D( R) j1 , j 2 , m1 ' , m2 ' = j1 , j 2 , m1 , m2 j1 , j 2 , j , m
j , m , j ', m '

j1 , j 2 , j , m D( R) j1 , j 2 , j ' , m'
j1 , j 2 , j ' , m' j1 , j 2 , m1 ' , m2 '
= j1 , j 2 , m1 , m2 j1 , j 2 , j , m
j , m , j ', m '

Dmm( j)
' ( R ) jj ' j1 , j 2 , j ' , m' j1 , j 2 , m1 ' , m 2 '

Relating these two results, we obtain the expansion

Dm( 1j1m)1 ' ( R )Dm( 2j2m)2 ' ( R) = j1 , j 2 , m1 , m2 j1 , j 2 , j , m
j ,m ,m ' (5.10)
Dmm ' ( R ) j1 , j 2 , j , m' j1 , j 2 , m1 ' , m2 '
( j)

known as the Clebsch-Gordan Series.

Addition of Three Angular Momenta

Addition of three angular momenta may be carried out in several ways:

J = J 1 + J 2 + J 3 = (J 1 + J 2 ) + J 3 = J 1 + (J 2 + J 3 )
One may for example add J1 and J2 first and add J3 with the resultant. Or one
may add J2 and J3 first and add J1 with the resultant. In both cases, we can follow
the rules in adding two angular momenta sequentially. Eigenkets arising from
these two ways of adding will differ, but could be related through Clebsch-
Gordan coefficients.

As an example, let us consider j1 = 1/2, j2 = 1, j3 = 3/2 . If we first consider

J' = J1 + J2, the resulting quantum number j' will be 3/2 and 1/2. Adding J' with
J3, the quantum number j can take on values 3, 2, 1 and 0 for j' = 3/2, and j = 2, 1
for j' = 1/2.

On the other hand, if we first consider J" = J2 + J3, the resulting quantum
number j" will be 5/2, 3/2, and 1/2. Adding J" with J1, the quantum number j can
take on values 3 and 2 for j"= 5/2; j = 2, 1 for j" = 3/2, and j = 1, 0 for j" = 1/2.

Note that in both cases, j takes on the same set of values. The way j was
obtained however, differs for the two cases.

We may relate the eigenkets for the two cases by using completeness
relations so that
j ' ( j1 j 2 ), j3 , j , m = j1 , j" ( j 2 j3 ), j , m j1 , j" ( j 2 j3 ), j , m j ' ( j1 j 2 ), j3 , j , m
j1 , j "

The unitary matrix j1 , j" ( j2 j3 ), j, m j ' ( j1 j2 ), j3 , j, m may be evaluated using

the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients

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 Quantum Theory of Angular Momentum

j1 , j" ( j 2 j3 ), j , m j ' ( j1 j 2 ), j3 , j , m
= j1 , j" ( j 2 j3 ), j , m j1 , j" , m1 , m" j1 , j" , m1 , m" j ' ( j1 j 2 ), j3 , j , m
m1 , m"

= j , j" ( j 2 j3 ), j , m j1 , j" , m1 , m" j1 , j" , m1 , m" j ' , j3 , m' , m3

1
m1 , m", m ', m3

j ' , j3 , m' , m3 j ' ( j1 j 2 ), j3 , j , m

Summary

In this module, we have shown that given two angular momentum operators J1
and J2, with eigenkets |j1, m1 and |j2, m2, respectively, the sum J = J1 + J2 will
have quantum number j which may take on the values
j1 j2 , j1 j2 + 1, j1 j2 + 2,, j1 + j2
and the quantum number m which takes on the values
j, j + 1,, j 1, j
The eigenkets of the of J may be represented in the coupled scheme as | j1, j2, j,
m or in the uncoupled scheme as | j1, j2, m1, m2. These two representations are
related via
j1, j 2 , j, m = j1, j 2 , m1 , m2 j1, j 2 , m1 , m2 j1, j 2 , j, m
m1 , m2

where the transformation matrix elements

j1, j2 , m1 , m2 j1, j2 , j, m
are known as the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients. These coefficients vanish unless
m = m1 + m2

In terms of rotation operators, addition of angular momenta is described

by
D( j1 ) D( j2 ) = D(| j1 j2 |) D(| j1 j2 |+1) D( j1 + j2 1) D( j1 + j2 )
which in terms of rotation matrices may be expressed as the Clebsch-Gordan
series
Dm( 1j1m)1 ' ( R)Dm( 2j2m)2 ' ( R) = j1 , j 2 , m1 , m2 j1 , j 2 , j, m Dmm ( j)
' ( R) j1 , j 2 , j , m' j1 , j 2 , m1 ' , m2 '
j ,m,m '

When adding three angular momentum operators, we may use the same
rule as adding two angular momenta by adding two operators at a time.

Addition of Angular Momentum 51