Spherical harmonics and angular momentum operators

In summary, the conversation discusses the maximum value of Lz denoted by |ll> and its relation to eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the orbital angular momentum. It also mentions the derivation of the eigenvalues and expresses gratitude for the help provided.
  • #1
FarticleFysics
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When solving for the spherical harmonic equations of the orbital angular momentum this textbook I'm reading..

Does this mean that there must be a max value of Lz which is denoted by |ll>? Normally the ket would look like |lm>, and since m is maxed at m=l then |ll> is the ket consisting of the eigenvectors for the max values of the orbital angular momentum.

Also how do we know the associated eigenvalues of Lz look like l h_bar?
 

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  • #2
Does this mean that there must be a max value of Lz which is denoted by |ll>
It doesn;t matter - all they care about is that it is an eigenvector of Lz.

Also how do we know the associated eigenvalues of Lz look like l h_bar?
... because that is always what they look like - should have been covered earlier in the text.

##\renewcommand{\ket}[1]{| #1 \rangle}##
##L_z\ket{l,m}=m\hbar\ket{l,m}##

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angula...tal_angular_momentum_in_spherical_coordinates
 
  • #3
Yes, I did the derivation of the eigenvalues as well. Thanks for your help!
 
  • #4
Well done!
 

1. What are spherical harmonics?

Spherical harmonics are a set of solutions to the Laplace equation in three-dimensional space. They represent the decomposition of a complex-valued function on the surface of a sphere into a sum of simpler functions of the form eimϕYℓm(θ,ϕ), where m and are integers and θ and ϕ are spherical coordinates.

2. How are spherical harmonics related to angular momentum operators?

Spherical harmonics are eigenfunctions of the angular momentum operators Lx, Ly, and Lz, which represent the three components of angular momentum in quantum mechanics. This means that the spherical harmonics describe the possible orientations of angular momentum in a quantum system.

3. What is the physical significance of spherical harmonics?

Spherical harmonics are used to describe the shape, orientation, and distribution of charge in atoms and molecules. They also play a crucial role in the description of quantum mechanical systems, such as the behavior of electrons in an atom or the rotation of a rigid body.

4. How do spherical harmonics relate to the quantum numbers and m?

The quantum number corresponds to the total angular momentum of a system, while m represents the projection of the angular momentum onto a specific axis. The values of and m determine the specific spherical harmonic function and its associated energy level in a quantum system.

5. Can spherical harmonics be visualized?

Yes, spherical harmonics can be visualized as a series of concentric shells on a sphere. The number of shells corresponds to the quantum number , and the angular distribution of the shells is determined by the value of m. For example, the =2 shell has four lobes, while the m=0 shell is spherically symmetric.

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