ANGULAR-MOMENTUM STATES OF THE DIATOMIC MOLECULE

An exact equation for the angular momentum states of the diatomic mole cule is derived. The eigenstates of the idealized Hund's cases (a) and (b) are then calculated from the exact result. Example calculations o f the matrix elements of the rotational Hamiltonian in the Hund's case (a) basis are given and Honl-London factors for (a)<->(a) and (b)<->( b) transitions are calculated. All calculations are carried out within the fully standard theory of angular momentum. Previous discussions o f diatomic angular momentum states have invariably employed special me thods such as consistently applied anomalies, and it is not generally known that such methods are unnecessary. (C) 1996 American Association of Physics Teachers.