Undergrad Rotational Transitions: What Are They?

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SUMMARY

Rotational transitions refer to quantized changes in angular momentum observed in molecular spectroscopy, specifically detected through radio telescopic spectroscopy. In the context of substituted benzene molecules in galactic clouds, these transitions represent changes in angular velocity at a constant mass. The discussion confirms that rotational transitions are indeed physical changes in angular momentum, providing a clear understanding of molecular behavior in astrophysical environments.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum mechanics principles
  • Familiarity with molecular spectroscopy techniques
  • Knowledge of angular momentum in physics
  • Basic concepts of radio telescopic observations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research quantum mechanics and its application to molecular transitions
  • Explore molecular spectroscopy methods, focusing on radio telescopic techniques
  • Study the principles of angular momentum in quantum systems
  • Investigate the role of substituted benzene in astrophysical studies
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Astrophysicists, molecular spectroscopists, and students of quantum mechanics seeking to understand the implications of rotational transitions in molecular behavior and their detection in space.

john t
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I read recently about rotational transitions being detected by radio telescopic spectroscopy for a substituted benzene in a gal cloud a ways away. My question is what is a rotational transition. I think it is a quantized change in angular momentum, but I'd like to picture it physically. Is it basically a change in angular velocity at a given mass?
 
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john t said:
Is it basically a change in angular velocity at a given mass?
Yes.
 
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Time reversal invariant Hamiltonians must satisfy ##[H,\Theta]=0## where ##\Theta## is time reversal operator. However, in some texts (for example see Many-body Quantum Theory in Condensed Matter Physics an introduction, HENRIK BRUUS and KARSTEN FLENSBERG, Corrected version: 14 January 2016, section 7.1.4) the time reversal invariant condition is introduced as ##H=H^*##. How these two conditions are identical?

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