### Topic: Rotational Spectroscopy - Diatomic Gases, J-Value?  (Read 963 times)

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##### Rotational Spectroscopy - Diatomic Gases, J-Value?
« on: October 29, 2018, 09:34:08 AM »
Hiya,
Im working through a report at the moment and trying to calculate wavenumber approximation and in the equation it contains variable called J and is defined as "the quantum number of the lower rotational energy level involved in the transition"

Ive been reading and cant seem to understand what this is asking. Google and many other sources tell me that J is the rotational quantum number but dont define it?? Is it related to the angular momentum quantum number somehow?

thanks =]

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##### Re: Rotational Spectroscopy - Diatomic Gases, J-Value?
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2018, 09:48:01 AM »
J IS the rotational momentum quantum number and can take on whole number values (0, 1, 2, ...)

See section "Structure of Rotational Spectra" here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotational_spectroscopy
What men are poets who can speak of Jupiter if he were like a man, but if he is an immense spinning sphere of methane and ammonia must be silent?  - Richard P. Feynman