# Calculating the spin given the baryon wave function

This is probably a trivial question and I am missing something conceptually simple here.

I have the spin part of the total wave function of a baryon consisting of three light quarks:

$$$$\psi = \frac{1}{\sqrt{6}}\left(2\big\uparrow\big\uparrow\big\downarrow - \big\downarrow\big\uparrow\big\uparrow - \big\uparrow\big\downarrow\big\uparrow \right)$$$$

My task is to compute the value of the spin ($$S$$) and its projection ($$S_z$$) of the state described by this wave function.

Naturally, I would get $$S$$ by applying the operator $$\textbf{S}^2$$ on my $$\psi$$, which would allow me to get the value of $$S(S+1)$$. But here my question comes: I am confused, how should I apply this operator on such a 'complicated' wave function consisting of three terms? And how do I take into account properly the (Clebsch–Gordan) coefficients entering before each term?

When I try to do that, I get an answer which is definitely wrong, however (I think) I understand how to perform such an exercise on a simple wave function consisting of only one term, such as $$\psi'=\big\downarrow\big\downarrow\big\downarrow$$, where a simple 'arrow counting' gives you a correct answer $$3/2$$.

Regarding the $$S_z$$, it is quite easy to guess to be $$+1/2$$ just counting the arrows, but again, the CG coefficients confuse me as I am not sure whether they should be taken into account or can be ignored.

I am pretty sure there's a ridiculously simple way to get the answer without any complicated math, but apparently I am missing something, so would be grateful for some catchy explanations.

• How did you use the CB coefficients? I'm not sure if there's a quick way to find $S^2$, but $S_z$ can always just be added together, since the total $S_z = \sum _i S_z^{(i)}$. – Hanting Zhang Mar 9 '19 at 19:22
• $S^2$ is something like $S_z^2 + \left(S_+S_- + S_-S_+\right)/2$. So check this definition for yourself, as it looks a lot like a homework assignment, and try it. Another approach is to construct all the spin states of three spins. Then you will encounter this one soon enough. Note that 3 spins easily give frustration ... I mean the spins. – my2cts Mar 9 '19 at 19:35
• @Hanting Zhang. Yes, there is a shortcut: Three spin 1/2s give you a spin 3/2 and two spin 1/2s. Raising the state ψ with $S_+$ yields 0, so this is definitely not in the spin 3/2 quartet, so, inevitably, it it is in one of the two spin 1/2 doublets or a linear combination thereof! my2cts already indicates the straight way to verify this is, indeed, a pure doublet. – Cosmas Zachos Mar 9 '19 at 21:14

Your equation for $$| \psi \rangle$$ is
$$$$|\psi\rangle = \frac{1}{\sqrt{6}}\left(2\big\uparrow\big\uparrow\big\downarrow - \big\downarrow\big\uparrow\big\uparrow - \big\uparrow\big\downarrow\big\uparrow \right).$$$$
If you want to measure the total spin of the state, you indeed act with $$S^2 = (S^{(1)} + S^{(2)} + S^{(2)})^2$$, where the superscripts denote the fact that the spin operators only act on their respective particles.
To get the total spin of your state you just expand out $$S^2 = (S^{(1)} + S^{(2)} + S^{(2)})^2$$ and act on each state in the sum with the operator. Note that you know that, for example, $$[S^{(1)}]^2 \uparrow\uparrow\downarrow = \hbar^2(\frac{1}{2})(1+\frac{1}{2})$$. You will also get terms like $$S^{(1)} \cdot S^{(2)}$$ which you will have to expand into components, but you can nevertheless calculate.