Angular Momentum in Quantum Mechanics (Investigations in Physics, No 4) [Hardcover]

A. R. Edmonds (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0691079129 | ISBN-13: 978-0691079127 | Publication Date: June 1968 | Edition: Revised

This book offers a concise introduction to the angular momentum, one of the most fundamental quantities in all of quantum mechanics. Beginning with the quantization of angular momentum, spin angular momentum, and the orbital angular momentum, the author goes on to discuss the Clebsch- Gordan coefficients for a two-component system. After developing the necessary mathematics, specifically spherical tensors and tensor operators, the author then investigates the 3-j, 6-j, and 9-j symbols. Throughout, the author provides practical applications to atomic, molecular, and nuclear physics. These include partial-wave expansions, the emission and absorption of particles, the proton and electron quadrupole moment, matrix element calculation in practice, and the properties of the symmetrical top molecule.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book . . . has always been and remains to be a standard source reference for those working in quantum theory of angular momentum and its applications in physics. -- Zentrallblatt für Mathematik
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr; Revised edition (June 1968)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691079129
• ISBN-13: 978-0691079127
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,548,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The reference for angular momentum in quantum mechanics., December 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Angular Momentum in Quantum Mechanics (Investigations in Physics) (Paperback)

Since its publication in 1957, Edmonds has been the reference for physicists and chemists interested in angular momentum calculations in molecular, atomic, nuclear and sub-atomic physics. Though it contains some typos in various editions, one famous instance being the reversal of conventions in a couple of key definitions between the 2nd revised printing in 1968 and 3rd printing in 1974, it remains a standard for a two generations of scientists.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic work on angular momentum theory, June 8, 2005

By 

Iain R. Mcnab "Hanguphile" (toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Angular Momentum in Quantum Mechanics (Investigations in Physics) (Paperback)

One of the most impressive things about this book is that it contains no known errors. That's pretty good for a subject which is highly mathematical, and riddled with superscripts, subscripts, primes and double primes.

This is not the most readable introduction to the quantum theory of angular momentum (for that I would have to suggest Richard Zare's book), but it provides a compact and useful introduction covering most of the usual material such as phase relationships, coupling and recoupling relationships (by means of clebsch-gordan coefficients, properties of three-, six- and nine-J symbols). The book is extremely theoretical (not suprisingly) in approach, not actually getting to useful examples until the final chapter, when a few examples of the use of the theory for calculating matrix elements of particular operators are given.

One of the most useful features of the book is the appendices, which give rather detailed summaries of the properties of Clebsch Gordan coefficients, 3-J and 6-J symbols.

This is an extremely useful book. It is a classic in the field. If you have any need for the quantum theory of angular momentum in your research, then this is a must-have volume.

5.0 out of 5 stars A succinct and clear treatment of angular momentum--and an interesting treatment of differential operators in spin space, April 23, 2011

By 

Ulfilas (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angular Momentum in Quantum Mechanics (Investigations in Physics) (Paperback)

Edmond's book provides a useful, compact, and fairly easy to follow guide to a topic that is all important in quantum mechanics: that of angular momentum. Because particle spin is also angular momentum, an understanding of this topic is extremely important in the proof and application of the Spin Statistics Theorem which allows us to see why spin n+1/2 Fermions differ from integral spin Bosons. Accordingly, this book is listed as a reference in Chapter 5 of Weinberg's venerable The Quantum Theory of Fields (Volume 1), in which the Spin Statistics Theorem receives a very thorough and lucid treatment.

Of particular interest to me is Edmond's treatment of differential operators in spin space on pp.26-27. I have attached the jpeg files for these two pages. If X+ and X- represent the spin eigenvectors u(1/2,1/2) and u(1/2,-1/2) respectively, and d+=d/dX+ and d-=d/X-, the components of spin angular momentum can be expressed as Jx=(h/4pi)(X-d+ + X+d-); Jy=(ih/4pi)(X-d+ - X+d-); Jz=(h/4pi)(X+d+ - X-d-); J+=(h/2pi)X+d-; J-=(h/2pi)X-d+. By manipulating these differential operators, Edmond shows that the basis for the D(j) representation of the angular momentum operator should be proportional to the monomials corresponding to (X+)**(j+m)(X-)**(j-m). Although this sort of argument is put forward by many other books discussing angular momentum, such as Tinkham's Group Theory and Quantum Mechanics, I found the treatment in this book to be somewhat more satisfying.