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Probability of angular momentum

Physics Asked by Chan on July 9, 2021

If I have a quantum state $|psirangle$ which I write in a basis ${|phirangle}$ (eigenstates of $L_z$ and $L^2$). How can I find the different values for $l_x$ and $l_y$ and their probabilities?

One Answer

You have to express $hat L_x$ and $hat L_y$ in terms of operators whose action on $|psirangle$ you know about. Ideally, you'd write $hat L_x$ and $hat L_y$ in terms on $hat L_z$ and $hat L^2$, but usually it's easier to use the ladder operators (as suggested in the comments):

$$hat L_+ = hat L_x+mathrm{i}hat L_y, $$ $$hat L_- = hat L_x-mathrm{i}hat L_y, $$

so that

$$hat L_x = frac{1}{2} left ( hat L_+ + hat L_- right ), $$ $$hat L_y = frac{1}{2mathrm{i}} left ( hat L_+ - hat L_- right ). $$

The ladder operators' action on eigenstates of $hat L_z$ is summarised here.

Answered by SuperCiocia on July 9, 2021

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