Total Angular Momentum: Solved Problems

1. Complete the missing steps in Griffith’s derivation of the singlet and triplet state for the addition
of two spin 1/2 particles, namely: given two spin 1/2 particles, show that
√
(a) S− | 1, 0 > = 2h̄ | 1, −1>
(b) S− | 0, 0 > = 0
(c) S+ | 0, 0> = 0
(d) S 2 | 1, 1> = 2h̄2 | 1, 1 >
(e) S 2 | 1, −1 > = 2h̄2 | 1, 1 >
where the notation above corresponds to the compact arrow notation as follows
| 1, 1 > = ↑↑

| 1, 0 > = √1 (↑↓ + ↓↑)

2

| 1, −1 > = ↓↓

| 0, 0 > = √1 (↑↓ − ↓↑) .

2
Remember that you should operate on each particle spin state individually.

This problem is designed to remind you how single particls S 2 , Sz , S+ and S− operators act on
single particle spin states, to teach you how multiparticles S 2 , Sz , S+ and S− operators act on
multiparticle spin states, and to force you to study Griffith’s *** presentation of the addition of
spin 1/2 with spin 1/2 to get the three triplet states and the one singlet state. For parts a, b and
c, you need to know how the two particles S+ and S− operators act. As we wrote in class, these
operators are given by
S+ = S1+ I2 + I1 S2+
S− = S1− I2 + I1 S2− .
So if we apply S− to the | 1, 1 > state, we will obtain
³ ´
(1) (2)
S− | 1, 1 > = S− + S− (↑↑)
= (S− ↑)(I2 ↑) + (I1 ↑)(S− ↑)
= (h̄ ↓) ↑ + ↑ (h̄ ↓)
√ 1
= 2h̄ √ (↓↑ + ↑↓)
2
√
= 2h̄ | 1, 0> .
Parts a, b and c are similar. For parts d and e, you must learn how to apply the two particle S 2
operator. In class, we showed
³ ´ ³ ´
S2 = S ~1 + S
~2 · S~1 + S~2

~1 · S
= S12 + S22 + 2S ~2
= S12 + S22 + 2S1x S2x + S1y S2y + 2S1z S2z
= S12 I2 + I1 S22 + S1+ S2− + S1− S2+ + 2S1z S2z .

1
Since you know what all the single particl operators in last line of the above equation do, you
can apply this expression to find what the composite S 2 operator does to the state | 1, 1 > and
| 1, −1 >.

1(a) Apply the total S− operator to the state |1, 0 >

1
S− |1, 0 > = (S1− I2 + I1 S2− ) √ (↑↓ + ↓↑)
2
1
= √ [(S1− ↑)(I2 ↓) + (S1− ↓)(I2 ↑) + (I1 ↑)(S2− ↓) + (I1 ↓)(S2− ↑)]
2
1
= √ [h̄(↓↓) + 0 + 0 + h̄(↓↓)]
2
2h̄
= √ (↓↓)
2

√
⇒ S− |1, 0> = 2h̄ |1, −1 > .

(b) Apply the total S− operator to the state |0, 0>

1
S− |0, 0 > = (S1− I2 + I1 S2− ) √ (↑↓ − ↓↑)
2
1
= √ [(S1− ↑)(I2 ↓) − (S1− ↓)(I2 ↑) + (I1 ↑)(S2− ↓) − (I1 ↓)(S2− ↑)]
2
1
= √ [h̄(↓↓) − 0 + 0 − h̄(↓↓)]
2
h̄
= √ [(↓↓) − (↓↓)]
2

⇒ S− |0, 0 > = 0.

(c) Apply the total S+ operator to the state |0, 0 >

1
S+ |0, 0> = (S1+ I2 + I1 S2+ ) √ (↑↓ − ↓↑)
2
1
= √ [(S1+ ↑)(I2 ↓) − (S1+ ↓)(I2 ↑) + (I1 ↑)(S2+ ↓) − (I1 ↓)(S2+ ↑)]
2
1
= √ [0 − h̄(↑↑) + h̄(↑↑) − 0]
2
h̄
= √ [−(↑↑) + (↑↑)]
2

2
⇒ S+ |0, 0 > = 0.

For parts d and e, it is very helpfull to know that

³ ´ ³ ´
S2 = S~1 I2 + I1 S
~2 · S~1 I2 + I1 S
~2

= S12 I2 + I1 S22 + S1+ S2− + S1− S2+ + 2S1z S2z

(d) Apply the total S 2 operator to the state |1, 1 >

S 2 |1, 1 > = S 2 (↑↑)

¡ ¢ ¡ ¢
= S12 ↑ (I2 ↑) + (I1 ↑) S22 ↑ + (S1+ ↑) (S2− ↑) + (S1− ↑) (S2+ ↑) + 2 (S1z ↑) (S2z ↑)
µ ¶µ ¶
3h̄2 3h̄2 h̄ h̄
= ↑↑ + ↑ ↑ +(0) (h̄ ↓) + (h̄ ↓) (0) + 2 ↑ ↑
4 4 2 2
3h̄2 h̄2
= ↑↑ + ↑↑= 2h̄2 ↑↑
2 2

⇒ S 2 |1, 1> = 2h̄2 |1, 1 >

(e) Apply the total S 2 operator to the state |1, −1>

S 2 |1, −1 > = S 2 (↓↓)

¡ ¢ ¡ ¢
= S12 ↓ (I2 ↓) + (I1 ↓) S22 ↓ + (S1+ ↓) (S2− ↓) + (S1− ↓) (S2+ ↓) + 2 (S1z ↓) (S2z ↓)
µ ¶µ ¶
3h̄2 3h̄2 h̄ h̄
= ↓↓ + ↓↓ +(0)(0) + (0)(0) + 2 − ↓ − ↓
4 4 2 2
3h̄2 h̄2
= ↓↓ + ↓↓= 2h̄2 ↓↓
2 2

⇒ S 2 |1, −1> = 2h̄2 |1, −1 >

3
2. Quarks carry spin 1/2. Three quarks bind together to make a baryon, such as a proton or
neutron, and two quarks bind together to make a meson, such as a pion or a kaon.
(a) What spins are possible for baryons?
(b) What spins are possible for mesons?
You should assume that the quarks are in their orbital ground state (or at rest), so that their
orbital angular momentum is zero—i.e., just add the spins not the j’s.

For this problem, you must add three spins to calculate the possible spins of the baryons, and you
must add two spins to calculate the possible spins of the mesons.
(a) First add two of the spins to get the two possible values when you add spin 1/2 (namely the
singlet and triplet states which have S = ? and ??). Then add ? and ?? to the third spin 1/2 to
get the two possible spin states of the baryons.
(b) For the mesons, you only need to add the spins of two spin 1/2 quarks, so you’ll get a singlet
and a triplet with spin? and spin ??.

2(a) To calculate the spins of the baryons, with three spin 1/2 quarks, we have to add three spin
1/2’s. When we add the first two, we get spin 1 and spin 0, since we get all spins in integer steps
from |1/2| + |1/2| to |1/2 − 1/2|. Then we must add these two spin values (spin 1 and spin 0) to
spin 1/2. When we add spin 1 to spin 1/2, and we get spin 3/2 and spin 1/2 since we get all spins
from |1| + |1/2| down to |1 − 1/2| in integer steps. Finally, we must add spin 0 to spin 1/2, and
we get spin 1/2 since we get all spins from |1/2| + |0| down to |1/2 − 0| in integer steps. So the
possible spin states for a ground state baryon are

3 1
or .
2 2

(b) To calculate the spins of the mesons, with two spin 1/2 quarks, we must add two spin 1/2’s.
Then we get all spins from |1/2| + |1/2| down to |1/2 − 1/2| in integer steps. So the possible spin
states for a ground state meson are

1 or 0.

4
3. A particle of spin 1 and a particle of spin 2 are at rest in a configuration such that the total
spin is 3, and the z component of the system is 1. If you measure the z component of the angular
momentum of the spin 2 particle, what are the possible values that you chould obtain, and with
what probabilities would you obtain them?

You need to expand the composite spin | 3, 1 > in terms of the individual spins. For spin 2, the
possible states are | 2, 2 >, | 2, 1 >, | 2, 0 >, | 2, −1 > and | 2, −2>, and for spin 1, the possible states
are | 1, 1 >, | 1, 0 > and | 1, −1 >. But we only want the combinations that have a z-projection
equal to one, so the expansion we seek is

| 3, 1 > = α | 2, 2 > | 1, −1 > +β | 2, 1 > | 1, 0 > +γ | 2, 0 > | 1, 1 > .

So you need to find the three expansion coefficients α, β and γ in the Clebsch-Gordon tables. Then
the probabilities you seek are given by | α |2 , | β |2 and | γ |2 .

3. From the 2 x 1 Clebsch-Gordon table, we obtain

r r r
1 8 6
|3, 1 > = |2, 2 > |1, −1> + |2, 1 > |1, 0 > + |2, 0 > |1, 1 > .
15 15 15

The corresponding probabilities we seek are the squares of the coefficients of the respective com-
ponents. So, we obtain

1 8 6
P (S2z = 2h̄) = , P (S2z = h̄) = , and P (S2z = 0) = .
15 15 15

5
4. Consider an electron with spin down in the ψ510 state in a hydrogen atom. If you measure
the total angular momentum squared of the electron alone, what are the possible values that you
chould obtain, and with what probabilities would you obtain them?

The orbital angular momentum of the electron is l = 1 (remember it is ψnlm !). And the spin of
the electron is 1/2. So we seek all the possible results of adding l = 1 to s = 1/2. Since the elctron
is spin down, sz = −1/2 and we want the expansion coefficients for

| 1, 0 > | 1/2, −1/2 > = α | 3/2, −1/2 > +β | 1/2, −1/2 > .

Look these up in your favorite Clebsch-Gordon coefficient table, and then calculate | α |2 and | β |2
to obtain the probabilities.

4. The electron has intrinsic spin angular momentum 1/2, and z component ms = 1/2. The
system has total angular momentum l = 1 and z component ml = 0 according to the indices on
the wave function ψ510 . In the direct product spin space, we have the state vector |1, 0 > | 12 , − 12 >.
The possible values of the total angular momentum are all j’s from |l| + |s| = |1| + |1/2| down to
|l − s| = |1 − 1/2| in integer steps, so j = 3/2 and 1/2. From the 1 × 1/2 Clebsch-Gordon table,
we find ¯ À r ¯ À r ¯ À
¯1 1 2 ¯3 1 1 ¯¯ 1 1
¯
|1, 0 > ¯ , − = ¯ ,− + ,− .
2 2 3 ¯2 2 3 ¯2 2
Since the total angular momentum must be either 3/2 or 1/2, and the eigenvalues of J 2 are
j(j + 1)h̄2 , the possible values of J 2 measurements are

15 2 3 2
J2 = h̄ or J2 = h̄ .
4 4
The corresponding probabilities are the squares of the respective coefficients, so we obtain

µ ¶ µ ¶
3 15 2 2 1 3 1
P (j = ) = P 2
J = h̄ = , P (j = ) = P J = h̄2
2
= .
2 4 3 2 4 3

6
5. Consider adding spin 1/2 to any arbitrary spin s2 . Show that the Clebsch-Gordon coefficients
for the case s1 = 1/2, s2 = anything, are given by
s s
s2 ± m + 1/2 s2 ∓ m + 1/2
, ± .
2s2 + 1 2s2 + 1

To find the Clebsch-Gordon coefficients to add s1 = 1/2 to s2 = anything, means we must find the
expansion coefficient A and B in the expression
¯ À¯ µ ¶À ¯ À¯ µ ¶À
¯1 1 ¯ 1 ¯1 1 ¯ 1
¯
| s, m > = A¯ , ¯ s2 , m − ¯
+ B¯ , − ¯ s2 , m + .
2 2 ¯ 2 2 2 ¯ 2

Now since | s, m > is an eigenstate of S 2 , we are seeking the eigenstates of S 2 . So the solution to
this problem is to apply the S 2 operator in the form

S 2 = S12 I2 + I1 S22 + S1+ S2− + S1− S2+ + 2S1z S2z

to the equation above, and to carefully collect all of the therms... the algebra is fierce, but the idea
is simple!
When you are all done, you should obtain
½ · ¸ r ¾
2 2 3 1 2
1 ¯¯ 1 1 ®¯¯ 1®
S | s, m > = h̄ A + s2 (s2 + 1) + m − + B s2 (s2 + 1) − m + , s2 , m −
4 2 4 2 2 2
½ · ¸ r ¾
2 3 1 2
1 ¯¯ 1 1 ®¯¯ 1®
+h̄ B + s2 (s2 + 1) − m − + A s2 (s2 + 1) − m + ,− s2 , m + .
4 2 4 2 2 2
The next step is to use the fact that

S 2 | s, m > = h̄2 s(s + 1) | s, m >

to obtain the second equation

¯ À¯ µ ¶À ¯ À¯ µ ¶À
¯1 1 ¯ 1 ¯1 1 ¯ 1
2 2 ¯
s | s, m > = = h̄ s(s + 1)A¯ , ¯ s2 , m − ¯
+ B¯ , − ¯ s2 , m +
2 2 ¯ 2 2 2 ¯ 2

Since the coefficients of each term must be the same, you can conclude that
· ¸ r
1 1
A s2 (s2 + 1) − s(s + 1) + m + + B s2 (s2 + 1) − m2 + = 0
4 4

and · ¸ r
1 1
B s2 (s2 + 1) − s(s + 1) − m + + A s2 (s2 + 1) − m2 + = 0.
4 4
Now you need to solve for A and B in terms of s2 and m. This is still a little bit tricky. However,
once you simplify the problem by letting
1
a = s2 (s2 + 1) − s(s + 1) +
4

7
and
r
1
b= s2 (s2 + 1) − m2 +
4

to simplify the notation, you will be able to eliminate B. You should find that the solution requires
that A is non-zero and that this occures when a2 − b2 = m2 . Express this in terms of the quantum
numbers s2 and m. You have to analyze the four possibilities carefully. Since s ≥ 0, you should
find that the possibilities are
1
s = s2 ± .
2

Use this to solve first for a and b, then for A and B, (or just solve for A and B directly). You
should obtain
r sµ ¶
1 1
A s2 + ∓ m = ±B s2 + ± m .
2 2

Now you are almost done. All that remains is to normalize. Use the normalization condition

|, A | 2 + | B | 2 = 1

to obtain the expansion coefficients given in the problem.

5. Finding the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients for the sum of s1 = 1/2 with s2 = anything means that
we are looking for the coefficients A and B in the expansion

¯ À¯ À ¯ À¯ À
¯1 1 ¯ 1 ¯1 1 ¯ 1
|s, m > = A ¯¯ , ¯s2 , m − +B ¯ , − ¯s2 , m + .
2 2 ¯ 2 ¯2 2 ¯ 2

Here |s, m > is an eigenstate of total S 2 , and we are looking for the eigenstates of S 2 , so we know
that

S 2 |s, m > = s(s + 1) h̄2 |s, m > .

Our strategy is to expand the total S 2 operator in the usual way, namely

S 2 = S12 I2 + I1 S22 + S1+ S1+ + 2S1− S2+ + 2S1z S2z ,

and then to apply this expansion of S 2 to the expanded state vector, to collect all of the terms, to
set the two expressions equal to each other, and then to solve for A and B. So first, we apply the

8
total S 2 operator to obtain

½ ¯ À ¯ À
¯
1 1 ¯ 1
2
S |S1 , m > = A S12 ¯¯ , ¯
I2 ¯s2 , m −
2 2 2
¯ À ¯ À
¯1 1 ¯ 1
¯
+ I2 ¯ , 2¯
S2 ¯s2 , m −
2 2 2
¯ À ¯ À
¯1 1 ¯ 1
+ S1+ ¯¯ , S2− ¯¯s2 , m −
2 2 2
¯ À ¯ À
¯1 1 ¯ 1
¯
+ S1− ¯ , ¯
S2+ ¯s2 , m −
2 2 2
¯ À ¯ À¾
¯1 1 ¯ 1
¯
+ 2S1z ¯ , ¯
S2z ¯s2 , m −
2 2 2
½ ¯ À ¯ À
¯ 1 1 ¯ 1
+B S12 ¯¯ , − I2 ¯¯s2 , m +
2 2 2
À ¯ À
1 1 2¯
¯ 1
+ I2 , − S2 ¯s2 , m +
2 2 2
¯ À ¯ À
¯1 1 ¯ 1
¯
+ S1+ ¯ , − ¯
S2− ¯s2 , m +
2 2 2
¯ À ¯ À
¯1 1 ¯ 1
+ S1− ¯¯ , − S2− ¯¯s2 , m +
2 2 2
¯ À ¯ À¾
¯1 1 ¯ 1
¯
+ 2S1z ¯ , − ¯
S2z ¯s2 , m +
2 2 2
= s(s + 1)h̄2 |s, m > .

Next, we must evaluate the action of each of the single-spin operators, using the usual relations:

p
S+ |s, m > = s(s + 1) − m(m + 1) h̄ |s, m + 1 >

p
S− |s, m > = s(s + 1) − m(m − 1) h̄ |s, m − 1>

S 2 |s, m > = s(s + 1) h̄2 |s, m >

Sz |s, m > = m h̄ |s, m >,

9
and then we must collect all of the terms:
½ ¯ À¯ À
2 3 2 ¯¯ 1 1 ¯¯ 1
S |s, m > = A h̄ , s2 , m −
4 ¯2 2 ¯ 2
¯ À ¯ À
¯1 1 ¯ 1
¯
+¯ , 2¯
s2 (s2 + 1)h̄ ¯s2 , m −
2 2 2
+0
¯ Àr ¯ À
¯1 1 1 1 ¯ 1
¯
+ h̄ ¯ , ¯
s2 (s2 + 1) − (m − )(m + ) h̄ ¯s2 , m +
2 2 2 2 2
¯ À ¯ À¾
¯
h̄ 1 1 1 ¯ 1
+ 2 ¯¯ , (m − )h̄¯¯s2 , m −
2 2 2 2 2
½ ¯ À¯ À
¯
3 2¯ 1 1 ¯ ¯ 1
+B h̄ ,− s2 , m +
4 ¯2 2 ¯ 2
¯ À ¯ À
¯1 1 ¯ 1
¯
+¯ ,− 2¯
s2 (s2 + 1)h̄ ¯s2 , m +
2 2 2
¯ Àr ¯ À
¯1 1 1 1 ¯ 1
+ h̄¯¯ , s2 (s2 + 1) − (m + )(m − ) h̄¯¯s2 , m −
2 2 2 2 2
+0
µ ¶¯ À ¯ À¾
h̄ ¯¯ 1 1 1 ¯¯ 1
+2 − , − (m + )h̄ s , m +
2 ¯2 2 2 ¯
2
2
½ ½¯ À¯ À¾ ½¯ À¯ À¾¾
¯1 1 ¯ 1 ¯1 1 ¯ 1
2 ¯
= s(s + 1)h̄ A ¯ , ¯ s2 , m − + B ¯ ,− ¯ ¯s2 , m +
2 2 ¯ 2 2 2 ¯ 2
Collecting the terms, we have
½ ¾¯ À¯ À
3 2 2 1 2 ¯¯ 1 1 ¯¯ 1
A h̄ + s2 (s2 + 1)h̄ + (m − )h̄ ¯ , s2 , m −
4 2 2 2 ¯ 2
r ¯ À¯ À
1 1 2 ¯¯ 1 1 ¯¯ 1
+ A s2 (s2 + 1) − (m + )(m − ) h̄ ¯ , s2 , m +
2 2 2 2 ¯ 2
½ ¾¯ À¯ À
3 2 1 ¯1 1 ¯
+B h̄ + s2 (s2 + 1)h̄2 − (m + )h̄2 ¯¯ , ¯s2 , m + 1
4 2 2 2 ¯ 2
r ¯ À¯ À
1 1 ¯1 1 ¯
+ B s2 (s2 + 1) − (m − )(m + ) h̄2 ¯¯ , − ¯s2 , m − 1
2 2 2 2 ¯ 2
½ ¾¯ À¯ À ½ ¾¯ À¯ À
¯
2 ¯1 1
¯ 1 ¯
2 ¯ 1 −1
¯ 1
= A s(s + 1)h̄ ¯ , ¯ s2 , m − + B s(s + 1)h̄ ¯ , ¯
2 2 ¯ 2 2 2 ¯s2 , m + 2

Since the coefficient of the |s2 , m ± 1/2 > terms on the left hand side must be equal to the
corresponding coefficient of the |s2 , m ± 1/2 > term on the right hand side, we have two equations
· ¸ r
1 1
A s2 (s2 + 1) + m + + B s2 (s2 + 1) − m2 + = s(s + 1)A
4 4
and · ¸ r
1 1
B s2 (s2 + 1) − m + + A s2 (s2 + 1) − m2 + = s(s + 1)B.
4 4

10
Rearranging the terms in these two equations, we find
· ¸ r
1 1
A s2 (s2 + 1) − s(s + 1) + m + + B s2 (s2 + 1) − m2 + = 0
4 4

and · ¸ r
1 1
B s2 (s2 + 1) − s(s + 1) − m + + A s2 (s2 + 1) − m2 + = 0.
4 4
To simplify the notation, let
r
1 1
a = s2 (s2 + 1) − s(s + 1) + , and b = s2 (s2 + 1) − m2 +
4 4

and solve for A. The two equations become

A(a + m) + Bb = 0 and B(a − m) + Ab = 0

Ab Ab2
⇒ B=− ⇒ A(a + m) − =0
a−m a−m
⇒ A(a2 − m2 ) − Ab2 = 0 ⇒ A(a2 − m2 − b2 ) = 0.
This can occur for non-zero A if a2 − m2 − b2 = 0 ⇒ a2 − b2 = m2 . Re-expressing this in terms
of the quantum numbers yields
· ¸2
1 1
s2 (s2 + 1) − s(s + 1) + − s2 (s2 + 1) + m2 − = m2
4 4
· ¸2 µ ¶2
1 1 1
⇒ s2 (s2 + 1) − s(s + 1) + = s22 + s2 + = s2 +
4 4 2
µ ¶
1 1
⇒ s2 (s2 + 1) − s(s + 1) + = ± s2 +
4 2
µ ¶
1 1
⇒ s(s + 1) = s2 (s2 + 1) ∓ s2 + +
2 4
µ ¶
1 1 1
⇒ s2 + s + = s2 (s2 + 1) ∓ s2 + +
4 2 2
µ ¶2 µ ¶
1 1 1
⇒ s+ = s2 (s2 + 1) ∓ s2 + + .
2 2 2
If you carefully solve this equation, subject to the condition that s ≥ 0, you will find

1
s = s2 ± .
2

11
The solution is tricky because of all the signs you must keep track of, but this is the formal way
to prove that the sum of spin 1/2 with spin s2 yields total spin s2 + 1/2 and s2 − 1/2. It’s okay if
you just assumed this. The next step is to find A and B. In terms of the earlier defined a and b,
we have
1 1
a = s2 (s2 + 1) − s(s + 1) + = s22 + s2 − s2 − s +
4 4
µ ¶2 µ ¶
1 1 1
= s22 + s2 − s2 ± − s2 ± +
2 2 4
µ ¶
1 1 1
= s22 + s2 − s22 ± s2 + − s2 ∓ +
4 2 4
1 1 1
= s22 + s2 − s22 ∓ s2 − − s2 ∓ +
µ ¶ 4 2 4
1
= ∓ s2 + ,
2
and r r
1 1
b = s2 (s2 + 1) − m2 + = s22 + s2 + − m2
4 4
s sµ
µ ¶2 ¶µ ¶
1 2
1 1
= s2 + −m = s2 + + m s2 + − m .
2 2 2

Remembering that A(a + m) = −Bb, we find

· µ ¶ ¸ sµ ¶µ ¶
1 1 1
A ∓ s2 + + m = −B s2 + + m s2 + − m
2 2 2
·µ ¶ ¸ s µ ¶µ ¶
1 1 1
⇒ ∓A s2 + ∓ m = −B s2 + + m s2 + − m
2 2 2
r sµ ¶
1 1
⇒ A s2 + ∓ m = ±B s2 + ± m .
2 2

We are finally almost done. We can use the normalization condition

|A|2 + |B|2 = 1,

to find A and B separately, instead of their ratio.

Eliminating |B|2 , we find

µ 1 ¶
2 2 s2 + 2 ∓m
|A| + |A| 1 =1
s2 + 2 ±m
1 1
s2 + ± m + s2 + ∓m
⇒ |A|2 2 2
=1
s2 + 12 ± m
2s2 + 1
⇒ |A|2 =1
s2 + 12 ± m

12
s
s2 + 12 ± m
⇒ A= .
2s2 + 1

And, finally, solving for B, we find

q
1
s2 + 2 ∓m
B = Aq
1
s2 +
±m 2
s q
1
s2 + 2 ± m s2 +
1
2
∓m
= q
2s2 + 1 s + 1
±m
2 2

s
s2 + 12 ∓ m
⇒ B= .
2s2 + 1

Whew!!!

13
6. Consider an electron in a hydrogen atom which is in the combined spin and position state
Ãr r !
1 2
R21 Y1,0 χ+ + Y1,1 χ− .
3 3

If you measure the following quantitites, what are the possible values that you chould obtain, and
with what probabilities would you obtain them?
(a) L2
(b) Lz
(c) S 2
(d) Sz
(e) J 2
(f) Jz
Now consider two of the continuous probability distributions:
(g) If you measure the position of the electron without determining its spin, what is the probability
density as a function of r, θ, and φ?
(h) If you measure both the z component of the spin and the distance from the origin, what is
the probability density for finding the electron with spin up at radius r?

Since the wave function Ψ(r, θ, φ),

Ãr ! "r q 
r µ ¶ r µ ¶# 1
1 2 1 1 2 0 Y
3 1,0
R21 Y1,0 χ+ + Y1,1 χ− = R21 Y1,0 + Y1,1 = R21  q 
3 3 3 0 3 1 2
Y 3 1,1

is normalized, the probabilities we seek are given by

¯Z ¯2
¯ ¯ ¯2 ¯ ∞
† ¯
P (Λ = α) = < Λ = α Ψ(r, θ, φ) > = ¯¯
¯ ¯ ¯ 3 ¯
Λα (r, θ, φ)Ψ(r, θ, φ)d r¯ .
−∞

So we must calculate the integral

¯ q  ¯2
¯Z ∞ 1 ¯
¯ 3 Y 1,0 ¯
= ¯¯ (Λ∗α1 , Λ∗α2 )  q  d3 r ¯
¯
¯ −∞ 2 ¯
3 Y1,1

¯Z Ã ! ¯2
Z ∞ ¯ ∞ r1 r
2 ¯
¯ ¯
= | R21 |2 r2 dr ¯ Λ∗α1 Y1,0 + Λ∗α2 Y1,1 dΩ ¯
−∞ ¯ −∞ 3 3 ¯

There is no radial dependence in Λ because we are only seeking the results of spin and orbital
angular momentum measurements. The spin dependence is contained in the spinors??, and the

14
orbital angular momentum information is contained in the spherical harmonics. Remember that
the spherical harmonics are orthonormal, so we have
Z
Yl,m∗ Yl0 ,m0 dΩ = δll0 δmm0 ,

and spherical harmonics which are not identical will not contribute. Let’s verify that the initial
wavefunction is normalized

Z ∞ Z ∞ Ãr r !  q1 
¯ 1 ∗ 2 ∗  3 Y1,0 
< Ψ(r, θ, φ)¯ Ψ(r, θ, φ) > = | R2,1 |2 r2 dr Y1,0 , Y q dΩ
−∞ −∞ 3 3 1,1 2
Y 3 1,1

Z ∞ µ ¶ Z Z
1 ∗ 2 ∗ 1 ∞ ∗ 2 ∞ ∗ 1 2
= Y1,0 Y1,0 + Y1,1 Y1,1 dΩ = Y1,0 Y1,0 dΩ + Y1,1 Y1,1 dΩ = + = 1.
−∞ 3 3 3 −∞ 3 −∞ 3 3
The integral over all solid angles of any spherical harmonic times its complex conjugate is 1, and
the integral over all solid angles of any spherical harmonic times any other spherical harmonic is
0.
(a) The only Yl,m ’s that appear in the wavefunction have l = 1. So the probability that you must
calculate is P (l = 1).
(b) The only Yl,m ’s that appear in the wavefunction have m = 0 and 1. So the probabilities you
must calculate are P (ml = 0) and P (ml = 1). You should obtain 1/3 and 2/3 respectively.
(c) The only spin that appears in the wavefunction has s = 1/2. So the probability that you must
calculate is P (s = 1/2).
(d) The only ms values that appear in the wavefunction are ms = +1/2 and ms = −1/2. So the
probabilitis that you must calculate are P (ms = +1/2) and P (ms = −1/2). You should obtain
1/3 and 2/3, respectively.
To work parts e and f, the probabilities of measuring J 2 and Jz , we must add the orbital angular
momentum and the spin angular momentum to obtain the total angular momentum. Translating
the l, m and s, ms information in initial wavefunction into Dirac notation we find
r r
1 ¯¯ ® ¯¯ 1 1 E 2 ¯¯ ® ¯¯ 1 1 E
Ψ= 1, 0 l ¯ , + 1, 1 l ¯ , − .
3 2 2 s 3 2 2 s

Use the Clebsch-Gordon tables to rewrite the wavefunction in terms of the | j, mj > states. You
should obtain √ ¯
2 ¯ 3 1 E 1 ¯¯ 1 1 E
Ψ=2 ¯ , + ¯ , .
3 2 2 3 2 2
(e) The only total angular momentum that apper are j = 3/2 and 1/2. So the probabilities that
you must calculate are P (j = 3/2) and P (j = 1/2). You should obtain 8/9 and 1/9, respectively.
(f) The only z-component of the total angular momentum that appears in the wavefunction is
mj = 1/2. So the probability that you must calculate is P (mj = 1/2).
Finally, calculate the probabilities that you will obtain j and the probabilities that you will obtain
mj by using thie expansion of the wavefunction in thje | j, mj > basis.
(g) The probability density in spherical coordinate is given by | Ψ(r, θ, φ) | 2 , where
¯ ¯ ¯
¯ ¯ ¯
¯ Ψ(r, θ, φ)¯ 2 =< Ψ(r, θ, φ)¯ Ψ(r, θ, φ) > .

15
You will need the radial wave function, which is given in Table 4.6 on page 141 of Griffiths. You
should obtain ¯ ¯
¯ ¯ 1 r2 −r/a
¯ Ψ(r, θ, φ)¯ 2 = e .
96π a5
(h) The possibility of measuring spin up corresponds to the portion with χ+ , so the probability
density for measuring spin up at a radius r is given by

¯ ¯ r r
¯ ¯2 ∗ 1 ∗ 1
¯ Ψ(r, θ, φ)¯ spin up = R21 R21 Y Y1,0 .
3 1,0 3

It is easiest to use the radial result from part g and the orthonormality property of the spherical
harmonics. You should obtain ¯ ¯
¯ ¯ 1 r2 −r/a
¯ Ψ(r, θ, φ)¯ 2 = e .
72 a5

6(a) Since both the spherical harmonics comprising our wave function have l = 1, the only possi-
bility for a measurement of L2 is l(l + 1)h̄2 = 2h̄2 .

⇒ P (l = 1) = P (L2 = 2h̄2 ) = 1.

(b) The possibilities for measurements of Lz are the eigenvalues of Lz which are mh̄. The m’s in
our wave function are 0 and 1, so possibilities are 0h̄ and h̄. The associated probabilities are
¯ q ¯2 ¯r ¯2
Z ∞ ¯ 1 ¯ Z ∞ ¯ 1 ¯ Z
¯ 3 Y 1,0 ¯ ¯ ¯ 1 ∞ 1
dΩ ¯¯(1, 0)  q ¯ = 2
P (Lz = 0) = ¯ dΩ ¯ Y1,0 ¯ = dΩ |Y1,0 | =
¯ 2 ¯ ¯ 3 ¯ 3 3
3 Y1,1
−∞ −∞ −∞

¯ q ¯2 ¯r ¯2
Z ¯ 1 ¯ Z ∞ ¯ 2 ¯ Z
∞ ¯ 3 Y 1,0 ¯ ¯ ¯ 2 ∞ 2
P (Lz = h̄) = ¯
dΩ ¯(0, 1)  q  ¯ dΩ ¯ Y1,1 ¯ =
2
2 ¯ = ¯ 3 ¯ 3 −∞
dΩ |Y1,1 | = .
3
−∞ ¯ 3 Y1,1
¯ −∞

1 2
⇒ P (Lz = 0 h̄) = , P (Lz = h̄) = .
3 3

(c) The possibilities for measurements of S 2 are the eigenvalues of S 2 which are s(s + 1)h̄2 . For
2
the
¡ electron,
¢ 2 the 2intrinsic spin angular momentum s = 1/2, so the only possibility is S =
1 1
2 2 + 1 h̄ = 3h̄ /4.

µ ¶ µ ¶
1 2 3 2
⇒ P S= = P S = h̄ = 1.
2 4

16
(d) The possibilities for measurements of Sz are the eigenvalues of Sz which are ms h̄. Note that
spin up corresponds to the Y1,0 portion of the wave function, and spin down corresponds to the
Y1,1 portion of the wave function. The calculations, therefore, look identical to those of part b,
and we obtain
µ ¶ µ ¶
h̄ 1 h̄ 2
P Sz = = , P Sz = − = .
2 3 2 3

(e) Here, J~ = L
~ + S,
~ so this is a problem in addition of angular momentum. We first write down
the information included in the original wave function in Dirac notation to explicitly display the
form in the direct product space:
r r
1 ¯¯ ®¯¯ 1 1 E 2 ¯¯ ®¯¯ 1 1 E
| Ψ> = 1, 0 ¯ , + 1, 1 ¯ , − .
3 2 2 3 2 2

This is now very similar to Problem 4. The linear combinations we seek are
¯
¯ ®¯¯ 1 1 E ¯3 1 E ¯1 1E
¯
¯1, 0 ¯ , = A1 ¯¯ , + B1 ¯ , ,
2 2 2 2 2 2

and ¯
¯ ®¯¯ 1 1 E ¯3 1E ¯1 1E
¯
¯1, 1 ¯ , − = A2 ¯¯ , + B2 ¯ , .
2 2 2 2 2 2
Using the 1 x 1/2 Clebsch-Gordan table, we find
r r r r
2 1 1 2
A1 = , B1 = − , A2 = , and B2 = .
3 3 3 3

We also could have used the results of Problem 5 to obtain these coefficients. So, now we have
r Ãr ¯ r ¯ ! r Ãr r !
1 2 ¯3 1E 1 ¯1 1 E 2 1 ¯¯ 3 1 E 2 ¯1 1E
¯
| Ψ> = ¯ , − ¯ , + ¯ , + ¯ ,
3 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 2 2
√ ¯ √
2 ¯ 3 1 E 1 ¯¯ 1 1 E 2 ¯¯ 3 1 E 2 ¯¯ 1 1 E
= ¯ , − ¯ , + ¯ , + ¯ ,
3√ 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 2
¯
2 ¯3 1 E ¯
1 ¯1 1 E
=2 ¯ , + ¯ , .
3 2 2 3 2 2

This tells us that the only possible values of j are 3/2 and 1/2. The corresponding eigenvalues of
J 2 are j(j + 1)h̄2 . The associated probabilities are the squares of the coefficients for the respective
values of j, and we obtain

µ ¶ Ã √ !2 µ ¶ µ ¶2
15 2 8 3 2 1 1
P J2 = h̄2 = 2 = , 2
P J = h̄ = = .
4 3 9 4 3 9

17
(f) Note that the z-component in both kets is 1/2, so that is the only possible value of Jz . The
corresponding eigenvalues of Jz are mj h̄, so we conclude that

µ ¶
h̄
P Jz = = 1.
2

(g) The probability density as a function of r, θ, and φ is |Ψ(r, θ, φ)|2 which is equal to | R21 |2 times
Ãr r r r r r r r !
1 ∗ 1 ∗ 1 ∗ 2 ∗ 2 ∗ 1 ∗ 2 ∗ 2 ∗
Y Y1,0 χ+ χ+ + Y Y1,1 χ+ χ− + Y Y1,0 χ− χ+ + Y Y1,1 χ− χ− .
3 1,0 3 3 1,0 3 3 1,1 3 3 1,1 3

The second and third terms inside the parentheses are zero because
µ ¶ µ ¶
∗ 0 ∗ 1
χ+ χ− = (1, 0) = 0 and χ− χ+ = (0, 1) = 0.
1 0

Similar calculations for the first and fourth terms shows us that the inner product of these spinors
are both 1, so the probability density above reduces to
Ãr r r r !
¯ ¯2 1 1 2 2
¯ ¯
¯Ψ(r, θ, φ)¯ = | R21 |2 Y∗ Y1,0 + Y∗ Y1,1 . (1)
3 1,0 3 3 1,1 3

The radial wave functions are given in table 4.6 on page 141 of Griffiths as

1 r 1 r2 −r/a
R21 = √ a−3/2 e−r/2a ⇒ | R21 |2 = e .
24 a 24 a5

The spherical harmonics are given in table 4.2 on page 128 of Griffiths as
r r µ ¶1/2 µ ¶1/2
1 ∗ 1 1 3 3 1
Y Y1,0 = cos θ cos θ = cos2 θ,
3 1,0 3 3 4π 4π 4π

and
r r " µ ¶ #" µ ¶ #
1/2 1/2
2 ∗ 2 2 3 3 2 3 1
Y Y1,1 = − sin θe−iφ − sin θe+iφ = sin2 θ = sin2 θ.
3 1,1 3 3 8π 8π 3 8π 4π

Substituting these results in equation (1), we obtain

¯ ¯2 µ ¶
¯ ¯ 1 r2 −r/a 1 2 1 2 1 1 r2 −r/a ¡ 2 2
¢
¯Ψ(r, θ, φ)¯ = e cos θ + sin θ = e cos θ + sin θ .
24 a5 4π 4π 24 4π a5

¯ ¯2 1 r2 −r/a
¯ ¯
⇒ ¯Ψ(r, θ, φ)¯ = e
96π a5

18
(h) The possibility of measuring spin up corresponds to the portion with χ+ , so the probability
density for measuring spin up at a radius r is given by
¯ ¯2 r r
¯ ¯ 2 1 ∗ 1
¯Ψ(r, θ, φ)¯ = | R21 | Y Y1,0 .
spin up 3 1,0 3

Since we want the probability density at a fixed r independent of θ and φ, we must integrate over
the angles to arrive at the probability density as a function of r alone. The integral is simple if we
use the orthonormality of the spherical harmonics.
Z r r Z
1 ∗ 1 1 ∗ 1
Y Y1,0 dΩ = Y1,0 Y1,0 dΩ = .
3 1,0 3 3 3

Putting this together with the radial dependence, we obtain

¯ ¯2 1 r2 −r/a
¯ ¯
¯Ψ(r)¯ = e .
spin up 72 a5

19