Baryons & addition of angular momentum

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the total angular momentum of baryons, specifically focusing on a system where two quarks are in the l=0 state and one quark is in the l=1 state. Participants are exploring how to determine the possible values of total angular momentum given that quarks are spin-1/2 particles.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to apply Clebsch-Gordan's theorem to combine angular momentum states and are questioning the steps involved in this application. There are inquiries about the reasoning behind the number of terms resulting from the application of the theorem.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided detailed explanations regarding the application of the theorem and the reasoning behind the results, while others are seeking further clarification on specific steps and the implications of certain terms in the calculations. Multiple interpretations of the theorem's application are being explored.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the irreducible representation and its impact on the calculations, as well as the potential confusion arising from the presence of '0' in the terms being considered. Participants are navigating through the complexities of angular momentum addition in quantum mechanics.

yxgao
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I was wondering if someone could help me explain this problem.
In a baryon, two quarks are in l=0 and one quark is in the l=1 state. Quarks are spin-1/2 particles. What values can the total angular momentum take?

I know the answer is 1/2, 3/2, and 5/2, but I'm confused about how they arrive at this answer.

Thx for any help!
 
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yxgao said:
I was wondering if someone could help me explain this problem.
In a baryon, two quarks are in l=0 and one quark is in the l=1 state. Quarks are spin-1/2 particles. What values can the total angular momentum take?
I know the answer is 1/2, 3/2, and 5/2, but I'm confused about how they arrive at this answer.
Thx for any help!

Apply Clebsch-Gordan's theorem for the angular momentum states:
(l=0,s=\frac{1}{2}),(l=0,s=\frac{1}{2}),(l=1,s=\frac{1}{2})

Daniel.
 
That's what the solution said. I don't fully understand the theorem. Is there any way you can explain this better, in context of the problem?
Thanks a lot for help!
 
yxgao said:
That's what the solution said. I don't fully understand the theorem. Is there any way you can explain this better, in context of the problem?
Thanks a lot for help!

Well,it's simple.U have three particles.Each of the paricles has two possible quantum states for the angular momentum.One for the angular,one for the spin.So that means 6 uniparticle states in all.U're interested in composing these 6 values for the angular momentum.So u apply the CG theorem and write:
0\otimes\frac{1}{2}\otimes 0\otimes\frac{1}{2}\otimes 1\otimes\frac{1}{2}
Begin to apply the the theorem from the right.You could do it from the left,as well.
0\otimes\frac{1}{2}\otimes 0\times\frac{1}{2}\otimes(\frac{1}{2}\oplus\frac{3}{2})=0\otimes\frac{1}{2}\otimes 0\otimes (0\oplus 1\oplus 1\oplus 2)=0\otimes\frac{1}{2}\otimes(0\oplus 1\oplus 1\oplus 2)

=0\otimes(\frac{1}{2}\oplus\frac{1}{2}\oplus\frac{3}{2}\oplus\frac{1}{2}\oplus\frac{3}{2}\oplus\frac{3}{2}\oplus\frac{5}{2})

=\frac{1}{2}\oplus\frac{1}{2}\oplus\frac{3}{2}\oplus\frac{1}{2}\oplus\frac{3}{2}\oplus\frac{3}{2}\oplus\frac{5}{2}

Daniel.
 
Thanks for your detailed explanation. How do you go from the last expression in the third to last line to the second to last line? Why do you only have 7 and not 8 terms in the parenthesis?
Thx
 
yxgao said:
Thanks for your detailed explanation. How do you go from the last expression in the third to last line to the second to last line? Why do you only have 7 and not 8 terms in the parenthesis?
Thx

I used the distributivity of the multiplication of representations towards the addition of the representations.The reason why in the last bracket there are 7 instead of 8 terms is that one of the 4 terms in the bracket is '0' and therefore the product of 1/2 with zero is still 1/2.The operator for the irreductible representation of ratio '0' is \hat{1},and so,every operator of the irreductible representation "a" when getting multiplied with the unit operator remains th same.

Daniel.
 

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