- #1
BOAS
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- 19
Homework Statement
The nucleons in a nucleus have a net orbital angular momentum ##L = 1## and spin angular momentum ##S = \frac{1}{2}##. What are the possible values of the total nuclear spin ##J##, i.e. the total angular momentum of the nucleus, and what are the possible values of ##J_z## in each case?
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I am very confused about how to solve this question.
I know that the total angular momentum ##\vec{J} = \vec{L} + \vec{S}## and that the lengths of these vectors are ##|\vec{L}| = \sqrt{l(l+1)}## and ##\vec{S} = \sqrt{s(s+1)}## respectively (in units of ##\hbar##).
At a guess, I would say that the total nuclear spin can be 1/2 or 3/2, but I don't have a particularly convincing reason.
I'd really appreciate some help on what I need to understand to solve questions like this.
Thank you!