Focused treatment of angular momentum for chemistry and physics

Most quantum mechanics texts treat angular momentum as one topic among many and orient primarily toward physicists. Now in its Second Edition, Angular Momentum: Understanding Spatial Aspects in Chemistry and Physics provides dedicated coverage of angular momentum theory and its applications to atomic and molecular phenomena, balancing rigorous theoretical development with worked problems drawn equally from chemistry and physics.

New to this edition are a section on the Runge-Lenz vector, an expanded chapter on orientation and alignment, and applications covering angular-momentum interference effects in photodissociation and reaction stereodynamics. A new chapter on the vector-model wave function provides quantitative and pictorial descriptions. Examples retain intermediate steps to build toward collision phenomena and advanced studies.

Readers will also find:

• Problem sets designed as both individual and group exercises, integrated into the text to reinforce abstract theoretical principles
• Class-tested material developed from graduate-level instruction, ensuring pedagogical clarity and logical progression through the subject
• Detailed worked examples from atomic and molecular phenomena that retain intermediate steps omitted in standard quantum mechanics treatments
• Coverage that serves chemists and physicists equally, connecting spatial aspects of angular momentum to spectroscopy and collision dynamics
• New applications and problem sets added to this edition, expanding the scope of real-world contexts for angular momentum theory

Angular Momentum serves graduate students in chemistry, physics, astrochemistry, engineering, life sciences, and molecular spectroscopy, as well as researchers in industry and academia seeking a focused, rigorous treatment of angular momentum theory and its applications across disciplines.

RICHARD N. ZARE is the Marguerite Blake Wilbur Professor of Natural Science with appointments in the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Physics at Stanford University. He has authored over 1200 peer-reviewed publications and has received numerous scientific awards throughout his career.

T. PETER RAKITZIS is a Professor of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics in the Department of Physics at the University of Crete in Greece. His research spans atomic, molecular, and optical physics, and he has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications in these fields.