PREFACE
During the past several years the theory of angular momentum has
come to occupy a more and more important position in the development
of physical theories of nuclear and atomic structure . One reason for this
is found in those improvements in experimental techniques whereby it
has become possible to measure angular distributions in nuclear reac-
tions , or alternatively angular correlations of successively emitted radia-
tions . From an entirely different quarter we find that the theory , in its
modern form , can be very advantageously applied to the formulation
and solution of problems associated with the static magnetic and elec-
tric nuclear moments which are coupled to the electric and magnetic
fields arising from surrounding charges . Here reference is made to prob-
lems encountered in low- temperature studies as well as to those met in
microwave spectroscopy .
It is therefore hardly surprising that there has been an upsurge of
interest in the elements of the theory which are basic for the description
of such physical phenomena . The theory of angular momentum is essen-
tially a highly formal one . Its principal ingredients are certain parts of
group theory and tensor algebra . In these pages , however , the emphasis
is much less abstract than these formidable terms imply . The present
work is the result of a course of lectures given at the Oak Ridge National
Laboratory in the winter and spring of 1955. In presenting those lec-
tures and in writing these pages it has been my conviction that a clear
understanding of the elements of the theory could be helpful to many
physicists , and that the ideas as well as the techniques involved can be
made available to a majority of those with a graduate - course knowledge
of quantum mechanics . There is no implication that one can avoid the
use of formalism . The simplification which the present treatment , it is
hoped , does achieve is based on two delimiting factors . First , we are
concerned here only with the properties of rotations because of their in-
timate connection with the concept of angular momentum . Second , the
reasoning is inductive , and , as the theory initially develops , it makes a
"smooth -join " with those aspects of quantum mechanics that are , com-
paratively speaking , common knowledge . In this way , it is felt that it is
possible to make the ideas as well as the analysis transparent and simple .
At the same time , this entails little if any essential loss in power and or /
elegance in the methods . What is sacrificed is the opportunity to discuss
and treat the most general and complicated problems in the most expedi-
tious manner . Actually , this loss of generality is felt in very few places ,
vii
