Physics Today

Angular Momentum: Understanding Spatial Aspects in Chemistry and

Physics
Richard N. Zare and William G. Harter

Citation: Physics Today 42(12), 68 (1989); doi: 10.1063/1.2811251

View online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2811251
View Table of Contents:
http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/magazine/physicstoday/42/12?ver=pdfcov
Published by the AIP Publishing

This article is copyrighted as indicated in the article. Reuse of AIP content is subject to the terms at: http://scitation.aip.org/termsconditions.
Downloaded to IP: 171.64.124.91 On: Tue, 19 Jan 2016 16:34:39
 of insulators with electrostatically The theories of the development the unique features of Zare's text is a
charged powders to create electropho- mechanisms and of the equations recurring discussion of elementary
tography. His work was driven by the necessary to explain them are dis- classical or semiclassical interpreta-
need for a simple, inexpensive method cussed as they evolved. The author tion of angular momentum quanti-
for making copies in offices. Making discusses how well the physics under- ties. The Wigner D functions (or
electrophotographic copies has since lying each of the development sys- irreducible representations), Wigner
become a multibillion dollar business. tems is understood. He gives experi- 3/-coupling coefficients (or Clebsch-
It is hard to imagine life in today's mental results with many useful Gordan coefficients), and Racah 3nj-
world without the photocopier. graphs and diagrams, along with recoupling coefficients are all dis-
Lawrence B. Schein worked for two clear statements about the impact of cussed using elementary geometrical
decades on the physics of electropho- each set of experiments on the theo- vector models after being introduced
tography and development both at retical work previously discussed. in a standard way. Zare also provides
Xerox and IBM. His distinguished Finally, he briefly states the current references to more advanced semi-
theoretical and experimental re- level of understanding of each devel- classical approximations.
search has been instrumental in im- opment mechanism and specific areas Physical examples are presented at
proving the understanding of the where more extensive theoretical and the end of each chapter in the form of
physics involved in latent image de- experimental work is needed. numbered "Applications," which are
velopment. The first part of Schein's book will like extended problems. They con-
The first quarter of Schein's book be useful for newcomers to electro- tain many equations preceded by
introduces the reader to the history of photography, including managers "Show that" or "Derive." This peda-
electrophotography and gives a de- and nonscientists who need a working gogical technique forces the student
scription of each of the steps in the knowledge of the history and pro- (and instructor) to work through deri-
electrophotographic process. This cesses. The rest of the book will be vations. Students and instructor in a
section also explains the trade-offs to especially useful to scientists new to hurry may at first be annoyed by this
be made when choosing the method- electrophotography who will be work- feature. However, most readers will
ology for each subsystem. Schein ing extensively with development sys- find that the text explains the more
provides an overview of the copier and tems. No matter which development difficult steps or at least provides a
printer markets, including tables that system is being studied or used, this helpful hint.
list all of the commercially available quantitative book informs the scien- Zare's development of angular mo-
copiers, some of the printers and their tist of work that has already occurred, mentum theory is only a little less
development technology and the aver- and provides an extensive list of formal than that found in most of the
age retail price and market growth as references that includes both historic standard angular momentum or ap-
a function of copier speed. Unfortu- and current documents. In addition, plied group theory texts. The usual
nately, the information for printers is Schein clearly delineates areas where formal order of development—har-
not as complete as that for copiers, more understanding is needed. For monics, D functions, coupling coeffi-
making it difficult for readers to researchers active in the understand- cients, tensor operators and recou-
compare the two markets. Schein ing of development physics, this com- pling coefficients—is changed slightly
also presents other powder marking pilation will be a handy reference by treating coupling coefficients be-
technologies. For those unfamiliar book to have on the shelf. fore D functions. The first three
with electrophotography, this section KAREL K. CZANDERNA developments require less than one
will provide insight into the rate of Eastman Kodak Company hundred pages including applications
technology development, the oper- and semiclassical discussions. The
ation of the processes and the current book also has a good elementary
state of the field. Angular Momentum: discussion of quantum rotor wave-
The remainder of the book deals functions, a prerequisite to the treat-
with the physics of several latent- Understanding Spatial ment of molecular spectroscopy in the •
image development systems. Schein Aspects in Chemistry and final chapter. Physics instructors
has done a superb job of organizing Physics may choose to skip the first 20-page
the book, making the contents of each "Application" on partial-wave analy-
chapter clear in his opening com- Richard N. Zare
sis as it would be covered in first year
ments. The various development sys- Wiley, New York, 1988. graduate quantum theory course.
tems (cascade, insulative and conduc- 349 pp. $39.95 he The introductory part of the text is
tive magnetic brush, monocomponent ISBN 0-471-61912-4 rounded out with additional applica-
and liquid) are discussed in separate Richard Zare's text on angular mo- tions of D functions and 3/ coefficients
chapters, so a reader interested in one mentum should be welcomed by grad- to two-electron atomic energy levels
area can readily locate the desired uate students and instructors of phys- and polarization or angular distribu-
information. These chapters are well ical chemistry or atomic, molecular tion effects in absorption, photofrag-
written in general, although readers and optical physics. It contains a ment and Raman spectroscopy. In-
may find that the chapter on cascade clear and concise exposition of applied cluded is a nice discussion of the
development drags a bit, despite its rotation group representation theory, Hanle effect. This is a fine example
historical significance. (Cascade de- or what is sometimes called U(2) that most introductions to the quan-
velopment was abandoned in com- Racah-Wigner calculus. The text tum theory of angular momentum fail
mercial systems in the early 1970s in uses numerous examples and applica- to mention at all.
favor of the magnetic-brush develop- tions to atomic and molecular spectro- The middle third of the text is
ment system). scopic and correlation experiments. devoted to angular momentum tensor
In each chapter, Schein clearly Many of the examples are drawn from algebra and applications. Zare shows
explains the requirements driving the Zare's own research on molecular how the sometimes horrendous alge-
work on a particular development orientation and alignment and chemi- bra is mitigated considerably by the
system and the improvements this cally reactive scattering. Feynman-like diagrams that were in-
work made to copy image quality. Apart from the applications, one of vented by the Lithuanian physicist
This article is copyrighted as indicated in the article. Reuse of AIP content is subject to the terms at: http://scitation.aip.org/termsconditions.
68 PHYSICS TODAY Downloaded
DECEMBER 19S9 to IP: 171.64.124.91 On: Tue, 19 Jan 2016 16:34:39
 We Have The Answers.
TO QUANTUM DESIGN like the susceptibility of thin-films, or the hysteretic behavior of
Quantum Design's Magnetic Property Measurement System, bulk ferromagnetic materials.
the Model MPMS, is the standard for performance and reliability Decide for yourself. Call our toll-free number today,
in magnetic measurement technology. (800) 289-6996. Our Sales and Customer Service representatives
Designed to perform fast, precise measurements of are ready to answer your questions about the MPMS.
the magnetic properties of materials over a broad range of Quantum Design and MPMS, your magnetic research
temperatures and applied magnetic fields, this versatile, fully solution.
automated magnetometer meets the continuously changing needs
of today's research laboratories.
The unique integration of a SQUID detection system and
a superconducting magnet; fast and stable thermal control; and
a sophisticated, but straightforward control system makes the
ra QUANTUM IIS78 Sorrento Valley Road, Suite 30
San Diego. California, LISA 92121

MPMS the ideal instrument for studying a variety of applications h^i DESIGN Fax: (619) 481-7410
1 (800)289-6996
Telex: 494-3226

Circle number 30 on Reader Service Card

This article is copyrighted as indicated in the article. Reuse of AIP content is subject to the terms at: http://scitation.aip.org/termsconditions.
Downloaded to IP: 171.64.124.91 On: Tue, 19 Jan 2016 16:34:39
 A. P. Yutsis. (He spelled his name Zare is an authority and he has made near-symmetric top molecules, which
"Jucys" when writing in English). the discussion appropriate for gradu- make up the majority of the world's
Other diagrammatic techniques such ate courses. Again, Zare makes effec- molecule population. Techniques for
as those developed by nuclear physi- tive use of semiclassical arguments in treating more complex polyatomic
cist Michael Danos can complement his discussion of tensor density opera- molecules are mentioned in refer-
the Yutsis graphs for tensor matrix tor matrices. ences and footnotes.
algebra, but they are not mentioned. The final chapter of the text treats In summary, Zare's text does a good
Applications of tensor algebra are energy levels and transitions of small job introducing the quantum mechan-
given using directional correlation in molecules that can be modeled by ics of two's: two unitary dimensions of
an A + BC — AB + C reactive scatter- symmetric or asymmetric tops. The U(2) or spinor rotation algebra, two-
ing experiment and in the study of applications include a development of fold finite symmetry, two-electron
spectroscopic orientation and align- the Honl-London formulas and the configuration and diatomic mole-
ment. These are both areas in which Hund's coupling cases for diatomic or cules. To do more would have made
the book much longer and more diffi-
cult. (There is an attempt to cram in
a discussion of group character theory
into a footnote, but it takes over two
pages of fine print!) As it is, the book
provides a necessary bridge between
the high powered theory in Brian
Judd's Angular Momentum Theory
for Diatomic Molecules (Academic
Press, Boston, 1975) and the state-of-
the-art experimental methods out-
lined in J. L. Steinfield's Molecules
and Radiation (Harper and Row, New
York, 1974).
There is a small minority of physi-
cists who love group representation
theory for its own sake. However,
most others have rued their rota-
tional training from the first day they
encountered the jabberwockian her-
polhodes and polhodes in Goldstein's
famous text. Zare's text goes a long
way toward making the "gruppen-
pest" less of pest and more of an
attractive tool. Students will appre-
ciate having such a well balanced

Break the treatment of theory and experiment.

And how many other texts discuss the
Hanle effect?

picosecond barrier!
Now for the first time you can break the picosecond
WILLIAM G. HARTER
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville,
Arkansas
barrier with the advanced new Femtosecond Streak
Camera (FESCA) from Hamamatsu.
That's right. Using a new streak tube and single
sweep operation, the FESCA achieves time resolution
NEW BOOKS
as short as 600 femtoseconds.
Consider these outstanding features:
Biophysics
• Time resolution: better than 700fs (600fs typical). Biophysics: An Introduction. C.
• Choice of two spectral responses-300 to 850 nm or Sybesma. Kluwer, Boston, 1989. 320 pp.
350 to 1550 nm. Dfl 190.00 ($110.00) he ISBN 0-7923-0029-
• Dynamic range of >40 (typical at highest resolution). 7. Text
You can rely on the advanced new FESCA for analysis
Blackburn's Introduction to Clinical
of ultra-fast light pulses. For complete information or Radiation Therapy Physics. S. Sha-
an on-site demonstration, contact Hamamatsu habi, ed. MPPC, Madison, Wis., 1989. 218
Photonic Systems. pp. $42.00 he ISBN 0-944838-06-5. Text
Lindenmayer Systems, Fractals, and
Plants. Lecture Notes in Bwmathematics
HAMAMATSU 79. P. Prusinkiewicz, J. Janan. Springer-
Verlag, New York, 1989. 120 pp. $19.80
PHOTONIC SYSTEMS
360 Foothill Road, PO Box 6910, Bridgewaler, NJ 08807, Phone (201) 231-1116
pb ISBN 0-387-97092-4. Monograph

Japan 0534/35-1562 West Germany 08152/375-0 UK 01-367-3560

Mathematical Biology. Biomathematics
HSU-5 Texts 19. J. D. Murray. Springer-Verlag,
France (1)49 75 56 80 Sweden 0760/32190
Circle number 31 on Reader Service Card New York, 1989. 767 pp. $59.00 he ISBN
0-387-19460-6. Text
This article is copyrighted as indicated in the article. Reuse of AIP content is subject to the terms at: http://scitation.aip.org/termsconditions.
70 PHYSICS TODAY Downloaded
DECEMBER 1989 to IP: 171.64.124.91 On: Tue, 19 Jan 2016 16:34:39