Understanding the Clebsch Gordan Coefficients: Explained and Solved

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients, specifically questioning the validity of certain summations involving these coefficients. Participants are exploring the relationships between different quantum numbers and their implications in the context of angular momentum coupling.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to understand the implications of summing over different quantum states and whether changing the sign of one of the quantum numbers affects the outcome. There are inquiries about the conditions under which the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients are defined and how these relate to the sums being discussed.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the relationships between the quantum numbers involved. Some participants express confusion about the notation and the implications of the summations, while others attempt to clarify the conditions under which the coefficients are valid. The discussion appears to be productive, with participants engaging in questioning and clarification.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific pages from a textbook, indicating that this topic is part of a homework assignment. There is mention of potential misprints or misunderstandings in notation that could affect the interpretation of the problem.

malawi_glenn
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[SOLVED] Stupid question about Clebsch Gordan

I know that

[tex]\sum _{m_1,m_2}|<j_1m_1,j_2m_2|jm>|^2 = 1[/tex]

But is

[tex]\sum _{m_1,m_2}|<j_1m_1,j_2-m_2|jm'>|^2 = 1[/tex] ?

I have tried to justify this by using a CG calculator and so on, but I just can't figure out why :S

I think that doesent matter, since you sum over all m_2 and m_1 so that m_1 + m_2 = m'.

Does anyone have a hint or clue?
 
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Maybe an example will help. Suppose m_1 = -1, 0 , 1. Write out the two sums over m_1 explicitly.
 
If you use -m_2, then you can only have m_1-m_2=m'.
CG are not defined (or are zero) unless m_1+m_2=m.
 
pam said:
If you use -m_2, then you can only have m_1-m_2=m'.
CG are not defined (or are zero) unless m_1+m_2=m.


those things I know.

Geroge Jones:

[tex]\sum _{a=-1}^1a = \sum _{a=1}^{-1}(-a)[/tex]
 
pam said:
If you use -m_2, then you can only have m_1-m_2=m'.
CG are not defined (or are zero) unless m_1+m_2=m.


those things I know.

Geroge Jones:

[tex]\sum _{a=-1}^1a = \sum _{a=1}^{-1}(-a)[/tex]
 
malawi_glenn said:
I know that

[tex]\sum _{m_1,m_2}|<j_1m_1,j_2m_2|jm>|^2 = 1[/tex]

But is

[tex]\sum _{m_1,m_2}|<j_1m_1,j_2-m_2|jm'>|^2 = 1[/tex] ?

I have tried to justify this by using a CG calculator and so on, but I just can't figure out why :S

I think that doesent matter, since you sum over all m_2 and m_1 so that m_1 + m_2 = m'.

Does anyone have a hint or clue?

As you say, since you are summing over all possible m_2 anyway, it does not matter at all if the label is [itex]- m_2[/itex] or [itex]m_2[/itex]. Unless I am missing something...
 
kdv said:
As you say, since you are summing over all possible m_2 anyway, it does not matter at all if the label is [itex]- m_2[/itex] or [itex]m_2[/itex]. Unless I am missing something...


Thats what I am wondering too :)

I was looking in Greniers book "nuclear models" page 93 and 94, and saw that he must have uses this property. And this is a sub problem for my HW, so therefor I aksed here.
 
malawi_glenn said:
Thats what I am wondering too :)

I was looking in Greniers book "nuclear models" page 93 and 94, and saw that he must have uses this property. And this is a sub problem for my HW, so therefor I aksed here.

The two expressions are equal. I was wondering if something had made you doubt it and if I was maybe not understanding the notation.
 
kdv said:
The two expressions are equal. I was wondering if something had made you doubt it and if I was maybe not understanding the notation.

No you have understand my question correct. I will mark this as solved now.
 
  • #10
kdv said:
The two expressions are equal. I was wondering if something had made you doubt it and if I was maybe not understanding the notation.

This is what I was trying to get at, but I accidentally wrote m_1 instead of m_2.
 
  • #11
malawi_glenn said:
But is

[tex]\sum _{m_1,m_2}|<j_1m_1,j_2-m_2|jm'>|^2 = 1[/tex] ?
I think that doesent matter, since you sum over all m_2 and m_1 so that m_1 + m_2 = m'.
I'm sorry, but I'm still puzzled. If that isn't a misprint, you can't have
<m_1,-m_2|m'> if m_1+m_2=m'.
 
  • #12
pam said:
I'm sorry, but I'm still puzzled. If that isn't a misprint, you can't have
<m_1,-m_2|m'> if m_1+m_2=m'.

no of coruse not, But the other guys understood my question;)
 

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