Why is Orbital Angular Momentum Quantized in Quantum Mechanics?

In summary, the wiki site on angular momentum in quantum mechanics explains that the orbital angular momentum of a subatomic particle is quantized and can only take on whole-number values. This is due to the particle's motion through space, and the magnitude of the orbital angular momentum is a multiple of h(bar). The quantum number for angular momentum is the second quantum number in 2-dimensional space, and there is a quantization for each dimension of space.
  • #1
Amith2006
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When I was trying to learn the reason for the Orbital angular momentum quantum number taking only whole number values, I stumbled across the wiki site on the same, which says that,

Angular momentum in quantum mechanics

In quantum mechanics, angular momentum is quantized – that is, it cannot vary continuously, but only in "quantum leaps" between certain allowed values. The orbital angular momentum of a subatomic particle, that is due to its motion through space, is always a whole-number multiple of h(bar).

If I am not wrong, it is the Orbital angular momentum quantum number which takes whole-number values and not the Orbital angular momentum itself. The magnitude of the Orbital angular momentum is in-fact,
[tex]\sqrt{[l(l+1)]}[/tex]h(bar)
The link to this site is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_momentum

Oh God! Sometimes even simple things create confusion...
 
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  • #2
Thats correct, the orbital angular momentum itself is not measured as 0, 1, 2, 3...

The quantum number for angular momentum is the second quantum number that comes about when using 2 dimensions where angular momentum becomes a factor. There is a quantization for every dimension of space(3).
 

What is orbital angular momentum?

Orbital angular momentum is a property of an object in motion around a central point, such as an electron orbiting an atomic nucleus. It is a measure of the rotational motion of the object around that point.

How is orbital angular momentum different from spin angular momentum?

Orbital angular momentum refers to the motion of an object around a central point, while spin angular momentum refers to the internal rotation of the object itself. For example, an electron's orbital angular momentum is its motion around the nucleus, while its spin angular momentum is its intrinsic rotation.

What is the formula for calculating orbital angular momentum?

The formula for orbital angular momentum is L = mvr, where L is the orbital angular momentum, m is the mass of the object, v is its velocity, and r is the radius of the orbit.

How does orbital angular momentum affect the energy levels of an atom?

In quantum mechanics, the principle of conservation of angular momentum dictates that an electron's orbital angular momentum can only take on certain discrete values. This translates to specific energy levels in an atom, which determine the electron's potential energy and thus its stability within the atom.

Can orbital angular momentum be changed or transferred?

Yes, orbital angular momentum can be changed or transferred through interactions with other objects. For example, when an electron absorbs or emits a photon, its orbital angular momentum can change. Additionally, the spin-orbit interaction can transfer angular momentum between an electron's spin and orbital motion.

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