- #1
chi_rho
- 10
- 0
Say I have [tex]{S_{x}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left(\begin{array}{ccc}
0 & 1 & 0\\
1 & 0 & 1\\
0 & 1 & 0\\
\end{array}\right)}
[/tex]
Right now, this spin operator is in the Cartesian basis. I want to transform it into the spherical basis. Since, [tex]{\vec{S}}[/tex] acts like a vector I think that I only need to transform [tex]S_{x}[/tex] like a vector:
[tex]{
R=\left(\begin{array}{ccc}
\sin \theta \cos \phi & \sin \theta \sin \phi & \cos \theta \\
\cos\theta \cos \phi & \cos \theta \sin \phi & -\sin \theta \\
-\sin \phi & \cos \phi & 0 \\
\end{array}\right)}
[/tex]
So my transformation looks like:
[tex]S_{spherical}=RS_{x}[/tex]
I thought this would be fine, so I performed a cross check on the angles I obtained. My cross-check was determined from the fact that I think the spin operator "points" solely in the x-direction so after performing my rotation in order to make sure I'm right when [tex]{\theta=\frac{\pi}{2} \hspace{5mm} \phi=0}[/tex] I should return with the original Sx in the Cartesian basis...This does not happen though. Is there something wrong with my transformation, or my reasoning behind the cross-check, or both?
0 & 1 & 0\\
1 & 0 & 1\\
0 & 1 & 0\\
\end{array}\right)}
[/tex]
Right now, this spin operator is in the Cartesian basis. I want to transform it into the spherical basis. Since, [tex]{\vec{S}}[/tex] acts like a vector I think that I only need to transform [tex]S_{x}[/tex] like a vector:
[tex]{
R=\left(\begin{array}{ccc}
\sin \theta \cos \phi & \sin \theta \sin \phi & \cos \theta \\
\cos\theta \cos \phi & \cos \theta \sin \phi & -\sin \theta \\
-\sin \phi & \cos \phi & 0 \\
\end{array}\right)}
[/tex]
So my transformation looks like:
[tex]S_{spherical}=RS_{x}[/tex]
I thought this would be fine, so I performed a cross check on the angles I obtained. My cross-check was determined from the fact that I think the spin operator "points" solely in the x-direction so after performing my rotation in order to make sure I'm right when [tex]{\theta=\frac{\pi}{2} \hspace{5mm} \phi=0}[/tex] I should return with the original Sx in the Cartesian basis...This does not happen though. Is there something wrong with my transformation, or my reasoning behind the cross-check, or both?