[ General Glossary, Quantum Glossary, Atomic Glossary ]
Note on Notation

The levels are specified using the quantum nunders n (principal quantum number), l (orbital angular momentum), and j (total angular momentum). Usually the notation used is:
n l LJ
where

  • n is the principal quantum number (a positive integer, as above)
  • l is a letter used to specify the value of the orbital angular momentum quantum number (which has allowed values l = 0, 1, ..., n-1) as above.
  • L is a letter used to specify the value of the orbital angular momentum quantum number (which has allowed values L = 0, 1, ..., n-1). The upper-case versions of the same letters for l are used, namely:
    value of L 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
    letter code for l S P D F G H I K L