3j Symbols

j

1

3

j

2

4

j

3

5

The 3

j

symbols give amplitudes for pairs of quantum spins to be in different quantum states. Change the magnitudes of the quantum spins and see the distributions of amplitudes for different states. For large spins the distributions become smooth and have semiclassical features.

Details

When

j

1

,

j

2

,

j

3

do not satisfy the triangle inequality, the spins with magnitudes

j

1

and

j

2

cannot combine to give a spin with magnitude

j

3

, and all the quantum amplitudes vanish.

External Links

Wigner 3j Symbols (Wolfram MathWorld)

Permanent Citation

Stephen Wolfram

"3j Symbols"
http://demonstrations.wolfram.com/3jSymbols/
Wolfram Demonstrations Project
Published: September 28, 2007