Discrepancies In Clebsch–Gordan Calculations (Dipole Transitions)

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The discussion centers on discrepancies in Clebsch–Gordan calculations related to dipole transitions as presented in Zettili's textbook. The user is struggling to reproduce certain quantities, particularly in the angular part of the dipole term, which involves the spherical basis representation of the position operator. They identify six relevant angular terms but find differences in their calculations for two specific terms compared to Zettili's results, particularly regarding the signs and coefficients in the Clebsch–Gordan coefficients. The user provides detailed calculations showing that their results differ from Zettili's by negative signs in both cases, indicating a potential oversight in the textbook's derivation. This highlights the importance of careful attention to detail in quantum mechanical calculations involving angular momentum.
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Homework Statement
Calculate the dipole transitions $$\langle n',l',m'|\textbf{r}|n,l,m\rangle$$
Relevant Equations
$$\langle l',m'|Y_{1q}|l,m\rangle=\sqrt{\frac{3(2l+1)}{4\pi(2l'+1)}}\langle l,1;0,0|l',0\rangle\langle l,1;m,q|l',m'\rangle$$
A table of Clebsch–Gordan relations is hyperlinked below (table B.2)
This is a solved problem from Zettili Chapter 7 Problem 7.8(b) but I am having troubles reproducing some of the quantities he produces. Zettili approaches this problem by describing ##\textbf{r}## using a spherical basis: a product between a radial and angular part $$r_{q}=\sqrt{\frac{4\pi}{3}}rY_{1q}(\theta,\phi)\quad\quad q=1,0,-1$$. The dipole term can be rewritten as $$\sqrt{\frac{4\pi}{3}}\langle n',l'|r_{q}|n,l\rangle\langle l',m'|Y_{1q}|l,m\rangle$$ where the radial part can be calculated from an integral (I have no problem with this) and the angular part can be resolved as follows. Since ##m'=m+q## then ##m'=m,m-1,m+1## and since ##\vert l_{1}-l_{2}\vert\leq l'\leq l_{1}+l_{2}## then ##l'=l,l-1,l+1##. The parity selection rule erases all ##l'=l## so there are just six angular terms to focus on. $$l'=l+1,m'=m+1$$ $$l'=l-1,m'=m+1$$ $$l'=l+1,m'=m$$ $$l'=l-1,m'=m$$ $$l'=l+1,m'=m-1$$ $$l'=l-1,m'=m-1$$
He refers to the 'relevant Clebsch–Gordan coefficients from standard tables' which from an internet search, I have found Table B.2 of this pdf. It concerns Clebsch–Gordan coefficients for ##j_{2}=1## and ##m_{2}=1,0,-1##.

Out of the six terms, my work differs from Zettili's solution on two of them. For instance, I take
$$\langle l-1,m+1|Y_{11}|l,m\rangle=\sqrt{\frac{3(2l+1)}{4\pi(2l'+1)}}\langle l,1;0,0|l-1,0\rangle\langle l,1;m,1|l-1,m+1\rangle$$
The square root coefficient is $$\sqrt{\frac{3(2l+1)}{4\pi(2(l-1)+1)}}=\sqrt{\frac{3(2l+1)}{4\pi(2l-1)}}$$
The centre term (the first CG coefficient) is calculated in Table B.2 within the cell bordered by ##m_{2}=0## and ##j-j_{1}=-1## which states
$$\langle j_1,1;m-m_2,m_2|j,m\rangle=-\sqrt{\frac{(j_1-m)(j_1+m)}{j_1(2j+1)}}$$
Where plugging in ##j_1=l##, ##m=0## and ##j=l-1## gives $$\langle l,1;0,0|l-1,0\rangle=\langle l,1;0,0|l-1,0\rangle=-\sqrt{\frac{l^2}{l(2l+1)}}$$
The last term is found in Table B.2 cell ##j-j_1=-1## and ##m_2=1## where $$\langle j_1,1;m-m_2,m_2|j,m\rangle=\sqrt{\frac{(j_1-m+1)(j_1-m)}{2j_1(2j_1+1)}}$$
So the associated CG term is
$$\langle l,1;m,1|l-1,m+1\rangle=\sqrt{\frac{(l-m)(l-m-1)}{2l(2l+1)}}$$
Therefore $$\langle l-1,m+1|Y_{11}|l,m\rangle=-\sqrt{\frac{3(2l+1)}{4\pi(2l-1)}}\sqrt{\frac{l^2}{l(2l+1)}}\sqrt{\frac{(l-m-1)(l-m)}{2l(2l+1)}}=-\sqrt{\frac{3(l-m)(l-m-1)}{8\pi(2l+1)(2l-1)}}$$
However, Zettili replaces ##2l-1## in the denominator with ##2l+3## and loses the negative sign.

I have a similar issue for ##\langle l-1,m-1|Y_{1-1}|l,m\rangle## where ##l'=l-1## and ##m'=m-1## where ##q=-1##. The square root is $$\sqrt{\frac{3(2l+1)}{4\pi(2l'+1)}}=\sqrt{\frac{3(2l+1)}{4\pi(2l-1)}}$$
The first CG term is in cell ##j-j_1=-1## and ##m_2=0## which gives $$\langle l,1;0,0|l-1,0\rangle=-\sqrt{\frac{l^{2}}{l(2l+1)}}$$
The other CG term is in cell ##j-j_1=-1## and ##m_2=-1## which gives $$\langle l,1;m,-1|l-1,m-1\rangle=\sqrt{\frac{(l+m)(l+m-1)}{2l(2l+1)}}$$
Multiplying these terms together, I get $$\langle l-1,m-1|Y_{1-1}|l,m\rangle=-\sqrt{\frac{3(l+m)(l+m-1)}{8\pi(2l-1)(2l+1)}}$$
Which differs from Zettili's solution by exactly a negative sign.
 
Last edited:
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