PH3103 Tutorial 2

1
Q 1)a) Show that for j = l + 2
we have
s s
 1  1 
l, mj − 1 ; 1 , 1 + l − mj +
  
j, mj ; l, s = 1 =
 l + mj + 2
 2 l, mj + 1 ; 1 , − 1

 2 2l + 1  2 2 2 2l + 1  2 2 2

1
and for j = l − 2

s s
 1  1 
l − mj +
  
j, mj ; l, s = 1 = − l, mj − 1 ; 1 , 1 + l + mj + l, mj + 1 ; 1 , − 1
 2
 2

 2 2l + 1  2 2 2 2l + 1  2 2 2

b) Hence determine the expectation value

   
1 1   1 1
l ± , mj ; l,  Sz l ± , mj ; l,
2 2 2 2

Q 2) Starting from [Ji , Vj ] = i~ijk Vk for a vector operator show that

h h ii    
J~2 , J~2 , V~ = 2~2 J~2 V~ + V~ J~2 − 4~2 V~ · J~ J~

and hence prove that

 
V~ · J~ J~
hj, mj ; l, s| V~ |j, mj ; l, si = hj, mj ; l, s| |j, mj ; l, si
j (j + 1) ~2

Q 3) Using the result of either Q1 or Q2 derive the expresssion for the

splitting of energy levels in a weak magnetic field.
Q 4) Determine the splitting of the first Lyman line in atomic hydrogen in a
weak magnetic field. The selection rule for electric dipole transitions relevant
here are ∆l = ±1, ∆mj = 0, ±1.