Exchange symmetry when adding angular momentum and in LS coupling?

In summary, when adding two angular momentum states together, the resulting states will have exchange symmetry. In order to keep the overall state for two electrons fermionic, we can only combine symmetric total orbital angular momentum states with anti-symmetric total spin angular momentum states (and vice-versa). However, this problem only occurs if the electrons occupy orbitals from the same subshell. In cases where the electrons are in different subshells, both symmetric and anti-symmetric functions can be formed with the same total orbital angular momentum. This is because the total orbital angular momentum is determined by the difference between the individual orbital angular momenta.
  • #1
CrimsonFlash
18
0
When you add two angular momentum states together, you get states which have exchange symmetry i.e. the highest total angular momentum states (L = l1 + l2) will be symmetric under the interchange of the two particles, (L = l1 + l2 - 1) would be anti-symmetric...and the symmetry under exchange will alternate until we reach the states with (L = l1 - l2).
If this is all correct, then in order to keep the overall state for two electrons fermionic under LS coupling, we can only combine symmetric total orbital angular momentum states with anti-symmetric total spin angular momentum states (and vice-versa). This page pretty much sums up what I'm trying to say http://quantummechanics.ucsd.edu/ph130a/130_notes/node322.html

But this would mean we can't have states such as:
3s3p 3P1 as L = 1 (symmetric) and S = 1 (also symmetric)
However, my lecture notes use this state as an example to show the effect of residual electrostatic Hamiltonian splitting. So what's wrong?
 
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  • #2
This problem only occurs if the electrons occupy orbitals from the same subshell (e.g. both 3p). In your case, you can form both symmetric (3s(1)3p(2)+3s(2)3p(1)) and anti-symmetric functions (3s(1)3p(2)+3s(2)3p(1)) with L=1.
 
  • #3
DrDu said:
This problem only occurs if the electrons occupy orbitals from the same subshell (e.g. both 3p). In your case, you can form both symmetric (3s(1)3p(2)+3s(2)3p(1)) and anti-symmetric functions (3s(1)3p(2)+3s(2)3p(1)) with L=1.
Why does the problem only occur if we have the same subshell? Also, how do we know that these linear combinations that your wrote are eigenstates of the total orbital angular momentum?

Thanks!
 
  • #4
The second point is rather trivial. s corresponds to l1=0, and p to l2=1, adding you get the total L=|l1-l2|...l1+l2=l2.
For the first point compare instead ##3p^2## with e.g. ##2p3p##. In the first case you have less states available, as there is only one states where m1=m2 while there are two in the other case.
 

Related to Exchange symmetry when adding angular momentum and in LS coupling?

1. What is exchange symmetry in relation to angular momentum?

Exchange symmetry refers to the fact that the total angular momentum of a system is conserved when particles are exchanged. This means that if two particles switch places, the total angular momentum of the system remains the same.

2. How does exchange symmetry affect the addition of angular momentum?

When adding angular momentum, the principle of exchange symmetry must be taken into account. This means that the total angular momentum of the system must remain unchanged as particles are added or removed.

3. How is exchange symmetry related to LS coupling?

LS coupling is a method used to calculate the total angular momentum of a multi-electron system. Exchange symmetry is taken into consideration in this method, as the total angular momentum must remain conserved when electrons are exchanged between different orbitals.

4. What happens when exchange symmetry is violated?

If exchange symmetry is violated, it means that the total angular momentum of the system is not conserved when particles are exchanged. This can occur in systems with strong interactions or in cases where the particles have different properties.

5. How is exchange symmetry experimentally observed in atomic systems?

Exchange symmetry can be observed in atomic systems through spectroscopy experiments. By studying the energy levels and transitions of atoms, scientists can determine the total angular momentum of the system and identify any violations of exchange symmetry.

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