Quantum Mechanics - Homework Assignment 10

Alejandro Gomez Espinosa

December 12, 2012

Shankar Ex. 14.3.2 (1) Show that the eigenvectors of n are given by Eq. (14.3.28).
Let us write the vector n in spherical coordinates: n = sin cos x + sin sin y + cos z. The
Pauli matrices are:

x
=
_
0 1
1 0
_
,
y
=
_
0 i
i 0
_
,
z
=
_
1 0
0 1
_
(1)
Then,
n =
x
x +
y
y +
z
z
=
_
0 1
1 0
_
sin cos +
_
0 i
i 0
_
sin sin +
_
1 0
0 1
_
cos
=
_
0 sin cos
sin cos 0
_
+
_
0 i sin sin
i sin sin 0
_
+
_
cos 0
0 cos
_
=
_
cos sin cos i sin sin
sin cos +i sin sin cos
_
=
_
cos sin (cos i sin )
sin (cos +i sin ) cos
_
=
_
cos sin e
i
sin e
i
cos
_
Now, let us nd the eigenvalues:
det( n I) =

cos sin e
i
sin e
i
cos

= 0
(cos )(cos ) sin
2
= 0
(cos
2

2
) + sin
2
= 0
2
= 1
Then, the eigenvector using = 1:
_
cos sin e
i
sin e
i
cos
__
x
y
_
= 1
_
x
y
_
cos x + sin e
i
y = x sin e
i
x cos y = y

gomez@physics.rutgers.edu
1
x =
sin e
i
y
1 cos
=
2 sin
_

2
_
cos
_

2
_
e
i
y
2 sin
2
_

2
_ =
cos
_

2
_
e
i
y
sin
_

2
_
Taking y = 1 we found the eigenvector for this eigenvalue. Finally, normalizing it:
| n, 1 = sin
_

2
_
e
i/2
_
_
cos(

2
)e
i
sin(

2
)
1
_
_
=
_
cos
_

2
_
e
i/2
sin
_

2
_
e
i/2
_
= | n+
That is the same as (14.3.28a). Following the same procedure for = 1:
_
cos sin e
i
sin e
i
cos
__
x
y
_
= 1
_
x
y
_
cos x + sin e
i
y = x sin e
i
x cos y = y
x =
sin e
i
y
cos + 1
=
2 sin
_

2
_
cos
_

2
_
e
i
y
2 cos
2
_

2
_ =
sin
_

2
_
e
i
y
cos
_

2
_
Taking y = 1 we found the eigenvector for this eigenvalue. Finally, normalizing it:
| n, 1 = cos
_

2
_
e
i/2
_
_
sin(

2
)e
i
cos(

2
)
1
_
_
=
_
sin
_

2
_
e
i/2
cos
_

2
_
e
i/2
_
= | n
(2) Verify Eq. (14.3.29).
n |S| n = n |

2
| n
=

2
n |
x
i +
y
j +
z
z| n
=

2
n

k i ij
i +ij k

n
n +|S| n+ =

2
n +

k i ij
i +ij k

n+
=

2
_
cos
_

2
_
e
i/2
sin
_

2
_
e
i/2
_
_
k i ij
i +ij k
__
cos
_

2
_
e
i/2
sin
_

2
_
e
i/2
_
=

2
_
cos
_

2
_
e
i/2
sin
_

2
_
e
i/2
_
_
kcos
_

2
_
e
i/2
+ (i ij) sin
_

2
_
e
i/2
(i +ij) cos
_

2
_
e
i/2
ksin
_

2
_
e
i/2
_
=

2
_
cos
_

2
_
sin
_

2
_
_
e
i
+e
i
_
i i cos
_

2
_
sin
_

2
_
_
e
i
e
i
_
j+
+
_
cos
2
_

2
_
sin
2
_

2
__
k
_
=

2
(sin cos i + sin sin j + cos k)
2
Shankar Ex. 14.3.4 Derive Eq (14.3.39) in two dierent ways.
(1) Write
i

j
in terms of [
i
,
j
]
+
and [
i
,
j
].
Let us recall some denitions:
[
i
,
j
]
+
= 2I
ij
[
i
,
j
] = 2i

ijk

k
Using this relations, let us write
i

j
as the semi-sum of both relations:

j
=
1
2
([
i
,
j
]
+
+ [
i
,
j
]) = I
ij
+i

ijk

k
Hence,
(A ) (B ) =

ij
A
i
B
j

j
=

ij
A
i
B
j
_
I
ij
+i

ijk

k
_
=

ij
A
i
B
j
I
ij
+i

ij
A
i
B
j

ijk

k
= I

ij
A
i
B
j

ij
+i

ij

ijk
A
i
B
j

k
= I (A B) +i

k
(AB)
k

k
= I (A B) +i (AB)
(2) Use Eqs. (14.3.42) and (14.3.43).
This equations are:
M =

=
1
2
Tr (M

)
Let dene M:
M = ( A)( B) =

ij

i
A
i

j
B
j
Then,
m
k
=
1
2
Tr
_
_

ij

i
A
i

j
B
j

k
_
_
if
k
= I m
k
=
1
2

ij
A
i
B
j
Tr(
i

j
)
=
1
2

ij
A
i
B
j
2I
ij
= I

ij

ij
A
i
B
j
= I(A B)
3
if
k
= I m
k
=
1
2

ij
A
i
B
j
Tr ((
i

j
)
k
)
=
1
2

ij
A
i
B
j
Tr (i
ijl

k
)
=
1
2

ij
A
i
B
j
i
ijl
Tr (
l

k
)
=
1
2

ij
A
i
B
j
i
ijl
(2
lk
)
= i

ij

ijk
A
i
B
j
= i(AB)
Finally,
M =

k
m
k

k
=

k
(I(A B) +i(AB))
k
= I (A B) +i (AB)
2) Let R(, , ) be the unitary operator associated with the rotation specied by Euler angles , and
, dened as a rotation of about the z axis, followed by a rotation of about the y axis, followed
by a rotation of again about the z axis.
a) Find explicitly the 2 2 matrix R(, , ) = e
iJz/
e
iJy/
e
iJz/
for j = 1/2.
We can use relation (14.3.44) from Shankar:
U[R()] = cos
_

2
_
I i sin
_

2
_

Then, calculate by parts:
e
iJz/
= e
iz/2
= cos
_

2
_
I i
z
sin
_

2
_
= cos
_

2
_
_
1 0
0 1
_
i sin
_

2
_
_
1 0
0 1
_
=
_
cos
_

2
_
i sin
_

2
_
0
0 cos
_

2
_
+i sin
_

2
_
_
=
_
e
i

2
0
0 e
i

2
_
e
iJy/
= e
iy/2
= cos
_

2
_
I i
y
sin
_

2
_
= cos
_

2
__
1 0
0 1
_
i sin
_

2
__
0 i
i 0
_
=
_
_
cos
_

2
_
sin
_

2
_
sin
_

2
_
cos
_

2
_
_
_
4
e
iJz/
= e
iz/2
= cos
_

2
_
I i
z
sin
_

2
_
=
_
e
i

2
0
0 e
i

2
_
Then,
R(, , ) = e
iJz/
e
iJy/
e
iJz/
=
_
e
i

2
0
0 e
i

2
_
_
_
cos
_

2
_
sin
_

2
_
sin
_

2
_
cos
_

2
_
_
_
_
e
i

2
0
0 e
i

2
_
=
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
_
_
b) Find the spinor obtained by acting on |jm = |
1
2
1
2
with this operator, i.e., R(, , )
_
1
0
_
.
The spinor is:
R(, , )
_
1
0
_
=
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
_
_

_
1
0
_
=
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
_
_
c) Show that J =

2
(sin cos , sin sin , cos ) (as expected) in this state.
Let us calculate J by parts:
_
1
2
1
2

J
x

1
2
1
2
_
=
_
1
2
1
2

1
2
1
2
_
=

2
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
_
_
T
_
0 1
1 0
_
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
_
_
=

2
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
_
_
T
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
_
_
=

2
_
e
i
sin
_

2
_
cos
_

2
_
+e
i
sin
_

2
_
cos
_

2
__
=

2
_
sin
_

2
_
cos
_

2
__
_
e
i
+e
i
_
=

2
sin cos
5
_
1
2
1
2

J
y

1
2
1
2
_
=
_
1
2
1
2

1
2
1
2
_
=

2
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
_
_
T
_
0 i
i 0
_
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
_
_
=

2
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
_
_
T
_
_
ie
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
ie
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
_
_
=

2
_
ie
i
sin
_

2
_
cos
_

2
_
+ie
i
sin
_

2
_
cos
_

2
__
=

2
_
sin
_

2
_
cos
_

2
__
i
_
e
i
e
i
_
=

2
sin sin
_
1
2
1
2

J
z

1
2
1
2
_
=
_
1
2
1
2

1
2
1
2
_
=

2
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
_
_
T
_
1 0
0 1
_
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
_
_
=

2
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
_
_
T
_
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
_
_
=

2
_
cos
2
_

2
_
sin
2
_

2
__
=

2
cos
6
Shankar 14.4.3 We would like to study here the evolution of a state that starts out as
_
1
0
_
and is subject
to the B eld given in Eq (14.4.27). This state obeys
i
d
dt
|(t) = H| (2)
where H = S B, and B is time dependent. Since classical reasoning suggests that in a frame
rotating at frequency (k) the Hamiltonian should be time independent and governed by B
r
(Eq.
(14.4.29)), consider the ket in the rotating frame, |
r
(t), related to |(t) by a rotation angle t:
|
r
(t) = e
itSz/
|(t) (3)
Combine Eqs (2) and (3) to derive Schrodingers equation for |
r
(t) in the S
z
basis and verify
that the classical expectation is borne out. Solve for |
r
(t) = U
r
(t)|
r
(0) by computing U
r
(t), the
propagator in the rotating frame. Rotate back to the lab and show that
|(t)
Sz basis
_

_
_
cos
_
rt
2
_
+i

r
sin
_
rt
2
_
_
e
+it/2
iB
r
sin
_
rt
2
_
e
it/2
_

_ (4)
Compare this to the state | n, + and see what is happening to the spin for the case
0
= . Calculate

z
(t) and verify that it agrees with Eq. (14.4.31).
Let us combine (2) and (3):
i
d
dt
|
r
(t) = H|
r
(t)
i
d
dt
_
e
itSz/
|(t)
_
= (S B) e
itSz/
|(t)
S
z
e
itSz/
| +ie
itSz/
d
dt
| = e
itSz/
S B|
S
z
| +i
d
dt
| = S B|
According to (14.4.27), B = Bcos ti Bsin tj +B
0
k. Therefore:
S
z
| +i
d
dt
| =
_

2
(
x
i +
y
j +
z
k)
_
(Bcos ti Bsin tj +B
0
k)|
S
z
| +i
d
dt
| =

2
(Bcos t
x
Bsin t
y
+B
0

z
) |
i
d
dt
| = B

2
(
x
cos t
y
sin t) | B
0

z
| S
z
|
i
d
dt
| =

2
(
x
cos t
y
sin t) | +
0
S
z
| S
z
|
i
d
dt
| =

2
e
itSz/

x
e
itSz/
| + (
0
)S
z
|
ie
itSz/
d
dt
| =

x
e
itSz/
| + (
0
)S
z
e
itSz/
|
ie
itSz/
d
dt
| =

x
|
r
+ (
0
)S
z
|
r

7
i
d
dt
|
r
= S
x
|
r
+ (
0
)S
z
|
r

i
d
dt
|
r
= (S
x
+ (
0
)S
z
)|
r

i
d
dt
|
r
= (S
x
+ (
0
)S
z
)|
r

where the Hamiltonian H

r
= S
x
+ (
0
)S
z
does not depend upon time.
In the rotating frame, the time evolution operator is given by U
r
(t) = e
iHrt/
. Therefore:
|
r
(t) = e
iHrt
|
r
(0) = e
iHrt
|(0)
and using (3):
|(t) = e
itSz/
e
iHrt
|(0)
Now, let arrange the variables in the Hamiltonian just to look compatibles with the expected result:
H
r
= S
x
+ (
0
)S
z
= BS
x
+
_
B
0

_
= B
r
S =
r
S =
1
2

r

where B = B x +
_
B
0

_
z and
r
=
_
B
2
+
_
B
0

_
2
. Then,
|(t) = e
itSz/
e
iwrt/2
|(0) = e
itz/2
_
cos
_

r
t
2
_
I i sin
_

r
t
2
_
n
_
|(0)
where n =
r
r
. With this result, let us represent it in the S
z
basis:
(t) =
_
e
it/2
0
0 e
it/2
___
cos
_
rt
2
_
0
0 cos
_
rt
2
_
_
i sin
_

r
t
2
__
n
x
_
0 1
1 0
_
+ n
z
_
1 0
0 1
____
1
0
_
=
_
e
it/2
0
0 e
it/2
__
cos
_
rt
2
_
i sin
_
rt
2
_
n
z
i sin
_
rt
2
_
n
x
i sin
_
rt
2
_
n
x
cos
_
rt
2
_
i sin
_
rt
2
_
n
z
__
1
0
_
=
_
e
it/2
_
cos
_
rt
2
_
i sin
_
rt
2
_
n
z
_
e
it/2
i sin
_
rt
2
_
n
x
_
where
n
x
=

rx

r
=
iB

r
, n
z
=

rz

r
=
iB
0
+

r
=

0

r
Hence,
(t) =
_
e
it/2
_
cos
_
rt
2
_
+i

r
sin
_
rt
2
_
_
e
it/2 B
r
sin
_
rt
2
_
_
(5)
that is equal to (4). In the case when
0
= and B =
r
:
(t) =
_
e
i
0
t/2
cos
_
rt
2
_
e
i
0
t/2
sin
_
rt
2
_
_
(6)
that is the same as the state |n+ if =
r
t and =
0
t.
8
Finally, let us calculate
z
(t):

z
(t) =

2

z
(t) =

2
(t)|
z
|(t)
=
z
(0) (t)|
_
1 0
0 1
_
|(t)
=
z
(0)
_
cos
2
_

r
t
2
_
+
(
0
)
2

2
r
sin
2
_

r
t
2
_

2
B
2

2
r
sin
2
_

r
t
2
__
=
z
(0)
_
cos
2
_

r
t
2
_
+
_
(
0
)
2

2
B
2

2
r
_
sin
2
_

r
t
2
__
=
z
(0)
_
cos
2
_

r
t
2
_
+
_
(
0
)
2

2
r
_

_
(
0
)
2

2
r
_
cos
2
_

r
t
2
__
=
z
(0)
__
(
0
)
2

2
r
_

_
(
0
)
2

2
+
2
r

2
r
_
cos
2
_

r
t
2
__
=
z
(0)
__
(
0
)
2

2
r
_

_
(
0
)
2

2
+ (
0
)
2
+
2

2
r
_
cos
2
_

r
t
2
__
=
z
(0)
__
(
0
)
2

2
r
_

_
2(
0
)
2

2
r
_
cos
2
_

r
t
2
__
4) A beam of j =
1
2
particles passes through one Stern-Gerlach apparatus aligned along the (111) direc-
tion, and then a second Stern-Gerlach apparatus aligned along the (111) direction. (That is, the
direction of measurement of the spin has been rotated by the tetrahedral angle.) Each apparatus
only transmits spin-up electrons (as dened in its own frame). What fraction of the beam leaving
the rst apparatus is passed by the second apparatus?
From equation (14.3.28), we know that general states of the particles with j =
1
2
are:
|S+ =
1

2
_
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
e
i

2
_
, |S =
1

2
_
sin
_

2
_
e
i

2
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
_
(7)
Since each apparatus only transmits spin-up electrons, let us calculate the state S+ in each
direction. If the Stern-Gerlach apparatus is aligned along the (111) direction: =

4
and 0.95;
therefore:
|S
1+
=
1

2
_
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
e
i

2
_
=
1

2
_
0.58e
i

8
0.81e
i

8
_
(8)
Then, in the direction (111): =

4
and + 0.58. Hence,
|S
2+
=
1

2
_
cos
_

2
_
e
i

2
sin
_

2
_
e
i

2
_
=
1

2
_
0.58e
i

8
0.81e
i

8
_
(9)
9
To nd the probability, lets use (8) and (9):
|S
2+
|S
1+
|
2
=

1
2
_
0.58e
i

8
0.81e
i

8
_
_
0.58e
i

8
0.81e
i

8
_

2
=

1
2
(0.34e
i

8
0.66e
i

8
)

2
=
1
4
_
0.34e
i

8
+ 0.66e
i

8
__
0.34e
i

8
+ 0.66e
i

8
_
=
1
4
_
0.12 + 0.22e
i

4
+ 0.22e
i

4
+ 0.44
_
=
1
4
_
0.56 + 0.22
_
e
i

4
+e
i

4
__
=
1
2
_
0.56 + 0.22 cos

4
_
= 0.35
Therefore, only 0.35% of the beam leaving the rst apparatus is passed by the second apparatus.
5) Find all Clebsh-Gordan coecients for
3
2

1
2
= 2 1.
First let us calculate the number of bases:
3
2

1
2
= 2 1 4 2 = 5 + 3 = 8
i.e., there are 8 states for our system. Let us enumerate them:
|j
1
m
1
, j
2
m
2
=

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
,

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
,

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
,

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
,

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
,

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
,

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
,

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
|jm = |22, |21, |20, |2 1, |2 2, |11, |10, |1 1
Let us calculate the coecients. It is easy to start from the highest state:

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
= |22 (10)
Then, using the lower operator:
J

|jm =
_
(j +m)(j m+ 1)|jm1
Let us calculate the other values:
J

|22 =
_
(2 + 2)(2 2 + 1)|21 = 2|21
|21 =
1
2
J

|22 =
1
2
(J
1
+J
2
)

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
= =
1
2
_
J
1

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+J
2

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
__
= =
1
2
_

_
3
2
+
3
2
__
3
2

3
2
+ 1
_

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

_
1
2
+
1
2
__
1
2

1
2
+ 1
_

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
_
= =
1
2
_

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
__
(11)
10
Since |21 is orthogonal with |11:
|11 =
1
2
_

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
_

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
__
(12)
Repeating the same procedure for the next states:
J

|21 =

6|20
|20 =
1

6
J

|21 =
1

6
(J
1
+J
2
)
_
1
2
_

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
___
=
1
2

6
_

3J
1

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+J
1

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3J
2

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+J
2

3
2
3
2
,
1
2
1
2
__
=
1
2

6
_
2

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+2

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
__
=
2

2
_

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
__
(13)
Since |20 is orthogonal with |10:
|10 =

2
_

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
__
(14)
J

|20 =

2|2 1
|2 1 =
1

2
J

|20 =
1

2
(J
1
+J
2
)
_

2
_

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
___
=
1

_
J
1
_

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
__
+J
2
_

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
___
= 2

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+ 2

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
= 2
_
2

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
__
(15)
Since |2 1 is orthogonal with |1 1:
|1 1 = 4

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
2

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
(16)
J

|2 1 =

2|2 2
|2 2 =
1

2
J

|2 1
=
2

2
(J
1
+J
2
)
_
2

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
_
+

3
2
1
2
,
1
2
1
2
__
= 0 (17)
The coecients can be found easily from relations (10) to (17) and the rest are zero, according to
(15.2.10).
11
Shankar Ex. 15.2.3 Argue that
1
2

1
2

1
2
=
3
2

1
2

1
2
. (This is just a counting argument.)
It is known that every space has (2n + 1) elements, then:
1
2

1
2

1
2
=
3
2

1
2

1
2
2 2 2 = 4 + 2 + 2
8 = 8
Or in other words,
1
2

1
2

1
2
=
_
1
2

1
2
_

1
2
= (1 0)
1
2
=
_
1
1
2
_

_
0
1
2
_
=
3
2

1
2

1
2
7) Show explicitly that the state |j
1
m
1
, j
2
m
2
having maximally up angular momenta (that is, the state
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
) is an eigenfunction of J
2
with label j = j
1
+ j
2
. Also show that the same holds for the
state |j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
. Hint: Derive J
2
= J
2
1
+J
2
2
+ 2J
1z
J
2z
+J
1+
J
2
+J
1
J
2+
and then use it.
Using the hint, let us calculate each term separately:
J
2
1
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
=
2
j
1
(j
1
+ 1)|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
=
2
(j
2
1
+j
1
)|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2

J
2
2
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
=
2
j
2
(j
2
+ 1)|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
=
2
(j
2
2
+j
2
)|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2

2J
1z
J
2z
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
= 2J
1z
(j
2
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
) = 2
2
j
1
j
2
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2

J
1+
J
2
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
= J
1+
(

...|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
) =
2

...

...|j
1
j
1
+ 1, j
2
j
2
1
But since j
1
is the maximum angular momentum, the state j
1
+ 1 does not exist. Hence,
J
1+
J
2
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
= J
1
J
2+
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
= 0
Using this results:
J
2
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
=
_
J
2
1
+J
2
2
+ 2J
1z
J
2z
_
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2

=
2
_
j
2
1
+j
1
+j
2
2
+j
2
+ 2j
1
j
2
_
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2

=
2
_
(j
1
+j
2
)
2
+j
1
+j
2
_
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2

=
2
((j
1
+j
2
)(j
1
+j
2
+ 1)) |j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2

=
2
(j(j + 1)) |j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
j
1
+j
2
= j
That indicates that the state |j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
is an eigenfunction of J
2
.
Now, let us repeat the same procedure for the case of the minimum angular momentum:
J
2
1
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
=
2
j
1
(j
1
+ 1)|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
=
2
(j
2
1
+j
1
)|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2

J
2
2
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
=
2
j
2
(j
2
+ 1)|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
=
2
(j
2
2
+j
2
)|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2

12
2J
1z
J
2z
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
= 2J
1z
(j
2
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
) = 2
2
j
1
j
2
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2

J
1+
J
2
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
= J
1+
(

...|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
1)
But since j
2
is the minimum angular momentum, the state j
2
1 does not exist. Hence,
J
1+
J
2
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
= J
1
J
2+
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
= 0
Using this results:
J
2
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
=
_
J
2
1
+J
2
2
+ 2J
1z
J
2z
_
|j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2

=
2
((j
1
+j
2
)(j
1
+j
2
+ 1)) |j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2

=
2
(j(j + 1)) |j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
j
1
+j
2
= j
That indicates that the state |j
1
j
1
, j
2
j
2
is an eigenfunction of J
2
.
13