Simultaneous Eigenstates and Good Quantum Numbers

A good quantum number is an eigenvalue label that remains meaningful under the dynamics and within the chosen model. In practice, it usually comes from an observable that commutes with the Hamiltonian and with the other observables used to label states.

For example, in a central potential,

$$[H,L^2]=0, \qquad [H,L_z]=0, \qquad [L^2,L_z]=0.$$

Thus stationary states may be chosen as simultaneous eigenstates of $H$, $L^2$, and $L_z$, with labels such as

$$\lvert \alpha,\ell,m\rangle.$$

The label is “good” because the corresponding eigenspaces are preserved by the Hamiltonian. It is not good by tradition; it is good because of commutators and symmetry.

The Basic Criterion

Let $Q$ be an observable with no explicit time dependence. A necessary dynamical test for $q$ to be a good label of energy eigenstates is

$$[H,Q]=0.$$

Then the Hamiltonian preserves the eigenspaces of $Q$. If

$$Q\lvert q\rangle=q\lvert q\rangle,$$

then time evolution under $H$ does not mix that eigenspace with eigenspaces of different $q$.

For several labels $Q_1,\ldots,Q_r$, one also needs mutual compatibility:

$$[Q_i,Q_j]=0 \qquad \text{for all }i,j.$$

Only then can states generally be chosen to have sharp values of all the labels at once.

Simultaneous Eigenstates

In the finite-dimensional textbook setting, mutually commuting self-adjoint operators can be simultaneously diagonalized. A simultaneous eigenstate satisfies

$$Q_k\lvert q_1,\ldots,q_r\rangle = q_k\lvert q_1,\ldots,q_r\rangle, \qquad k=1,\ldots,r.$$

When $H$ is included in the commuting family,

$$H\lvert E,q_1,\ldots,q_r\rangle = E\lvert E,q_1,\ldots,q_r\rangle.$$

This is the algebraic basis of quantum-number notation. For the general formalism, see Compatible Observables and Complete Sets of Commuting Observables.

Good Does Not Mean Complete

A good quantum number can be useful without uniquely identifying a state. If several linearly independent states share the same labels, an additional degeneracy label is still needed:

$$\lvert E,q,\lambda\rangle, \qquad \lambda=1,\ldots,g_{E,q}.$$

Completeness is stronger. A complete set of commuting observables distinguishes basis states, up to phase, inside the sector being considered. Good quantum numbers may organize a spectrum while still leaving degeneracy.

This distinction matters in symmetry problems. A Hamiltonian may commute with $J^2$ and $J_z$, so $j$ and $m$ are good labels, but there may be several independent copies of the same $j,m$ labels because of radial, spin, flavor, lattice, or internal degrees of freedom.

Central Potentials

For a spinless particle in a central potential,

$$H=\frac{\mathbf P^2}{2m}+V(R),$$

rotational invariance gives

$$[H,L_i]=0, \qquad i=x,y,z.$$

Since the angular momentum components do not commute with each other, one does not label states by $L_x,L_y,L_z$ simultaneously. Instead one uses the commuting set

$$H,\quad L^2,\quad L_z.$$

The stationary states can be chosen as

$$\begin{aligned} H\lvert \alpha,\ell,m\rangle &= E_{\alpha\ell}\lvert \alpha,\ell,m\rangle, \\ L^2\lvert \alpha,\ell,m\rangle &= \hbar^2\ell(\ell+1)\lvert \alpha,\ell,m\rangle, \\ L_z\lvert \alpha,\ell,m\rangle &= \hbar m\lvert \alpha,\ell,m\rangle. \end{aligned}$$

Here $\alpha$ denotes whatever additional radial or spectral label is needed. For a generic central potential, $E$ depends on both a radial label and $\ell$. Rotational symmetry guarantees the $m$ degeneracy, not degeneracy between different $\ell$ values.

Ideal Hydrogen Labels

In the ideal spinless Coulomb problem, the bound-state labels are usually written

$$\lvert n,\ell,m\rangle.$$

They are simultaneous labels for $H$, $L^2$, and $L_z$:

$$\begin{aligned} H\lvert n,\ell,m\rangle &= E_n\lvert n,\ell,m\rangle, \\ L^2\lvert n,\ell,m\rangle &= \hbar^2\ell(\ell+1)\lvert n,\ell,m\rangle, \\ L_z\lvert n,\ell,m\rangle &= \hbar m\lvert n,\ell,m\rangle. \end{aligned}$$

The label $n$ is tied to the Coulomb energy, while $\ell$ and $m$ are angular momentum labels. The fact that $E_n$ is independent of $\ell$ is special to the Coulomb problem; it is not implied by central symmetry alone.

If spin is included but spin-dependent terms are ignored, one may also use

$$\lvert n,\ell,m_\ell\rangle \lvert s,m_s\rangle, \qquad s=\frac12,$$

where $m_s=\pm1/2$. In that simplified Hamiltonian, $m_\ell$ and $m_s$ are separately conserved because the spin and orbital sectors are not coupled.

When Spin-Orbit Coupling Changes the Labels

Once a central spin-orbit interaction is included,

$$H_{\mathrm{SO}} = \xi(r)\,\mathbf L\cdot\mathbf S,$$

the separate labels $m_\ell$ and $m_s$ are no longer generally good. The Hamiltonian remains invariant under simultaneous rotations generated by

$$\mathbf J=\mathbf L+\mathbf S,$$

so the useful labels become

$$\lvert n,\ell,s;j,m_j\rangle.$$

In the simple central spin-orbit model, $L^2$, $S^2$, $J^2$, and $J_z$ commute with the Hamiltonian. The labels $\ell$, $s$, $j$, and $m_j$ are good, while $m_\ell$ and $m_s$ are basis labels for the uncoupled description, not conserved labels of the coupled Hamiltonian.

This is the central lesson: a good quantum number can stop being good when the Hamiltonian changes.

Spin Chain Preview

In a many-spin system with full rotational symmetry, the total spin operators

$$\mathbf S_{\rm tot} = \sum_a \mathbf S_a$$

may satisfy

$$[H,S_{\rm tot}^2]=0, \qquad [H,S_{{\rm tot},z}]=0.$$

Then states can be organized by total spin labels

$$\lvert E,S,M,\lambda\rangle.$$

The extra label $\lambda$ is often essential: many-body Hilbert spaces can contain repeated copies of the same total-spin representation.

If the Hamiltonian has only axial symmetry, then $S_{{\rm tot},z}$ may remain good while $S_{\rm tot}^2$ does not. This is the many-body version of the same rule: the good labels are those protected by the actual symmetry of the Hamiltonian, not by the symmetry one wishes it had.

Approximate Good Quantum Numbers

In applications, one often uses approximate labels. Suppose

$$H=H_0+\epsilon V,$$

where $Q$ commutes with $H_0$ but not with $V$:

$$[H_0,Q]=0, \qquad [V,Q]\ne0.$$

For small $\epsilon$, eigenstates of $H$ may still be close to eigenstates of $Q$, and $q$ may remain an approximate quantum number. But it is no longer exact.

This distinction is especially important in spectroscopy. Labels such as $m_\ell$, $m_s$, $j$, and $m_j$ can change status as spin-orbit coupling, hyperfine coupling, and external fields become more or less important. See Approximate Symmetry for the broader taxonomy.

Diagnostic Checklist

To decide whether $q$ is a good quantum number, ask:

• What operator $Q$ has eigenvalue $q$?
• Does $Q$ commute with the Hamiltonian in the model being used?
• If $Q$ has explicit time dependence, does it satisfy the constant-of-motion condition?
• Does $Q$ commute with the other operators in the proposed label set?
• Does the label set distinguish states, or is an extra degeneracy label needed?
• Does a perturbation, external field, boundary condition, or coupling break the protecting symmetry?

The answer can differ between an ideal model, a perturbative approximation, and the full physical Hamiltonian.

Common Mistakes

• Calling a quantum number good because it appears in a familiar notation, rather than checking commutators.
• Treating $m_\ell$ and $m_s$ as exact labels after spin-orbit coupling has been included.
• Assuming that $j$ and $m_j$ remain good in an external field without checking the field symmetry.
• Forgetting that good quantum numbers need not form a complete set.
• Trying to assign simultaneous sharp values to noncommuting labels such as $J_x$ and $J_z$.
• Treating approximate labels as exact when computing selection rules or degeneracy splittings.
• Using hydrogenic $n,\ell,m$ labels for a generic central potential without distinguishing the radial label from the Coulomb principal quantum number.

Cross-Links

• Constants of Motion
• Compatible Observables
• Complete Sets of Commuting Observables
• Energy Eigenstates
• Degeneracy and Multiplets
• Central Potentials and Rotational Symmetry
• Eigenvalues of J² and Jz
• Hydrogen Atom Angular Structure
• Spin-Orbit Coupling
• Approximate Symmetry
• Symmetry and Selection Rules Preview
• Selection Rules

References

• P. A. M. Dirac, The Principles of Quantum Mechanics, 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 1958.
• E. P. Wigner, Group Theory and Its Application to the Quantum Mechanics of Atomic Spectra, Academic Press, 1959.
• J. J. Sakurai and J. Napolitano, Modern Quantum Mechanics, 3rd ed., Cambridge University Press, 2020.
• R. Shankar, Principles of Quantum Mechanics, 2nd ed., Springer, 1994.
• C. Cohen-Tannoudji, B. Diu, and F. Laloe, Quantum Mechanics, Wiley, 1977.

Exercises

1. In a central potential, why are $L^2$ and $L_z$ compatible labels, while $L_x$ and $L_z$ are not?

Solution

The angular momentum algebra gives

$$[L^2,L_z]=0,$$

so $L^2$ and $L_z$ can be diagonalized together. But

$$[L_x,L_z]=-i\hbar L_y,$$

which is generally nonzero. Thus $L_x$ and $L_z$ cannot generally be assigned simultaneous sharp eigenvalue labels.

2. For ideal spinless hydrogen, explain why $n$, $\ell$, and $m$ are good quantum numbers but do not all have the same origin.

Solution

The label $n$ labels the Coulomb bound-state energy through $H$. The label $\ell$ is the eigenvalue label of $L^2$, and $m$ is the eigenvalue label of $L_z$. The angular labels come from rotational symmetry and angular momentum algebra. The fact that the energy depends only on $n$, not on $\ell$, is special to the Coulomb potential and is not a generic consequence of rotational symmetry.

3. A Hamiltonian contains a central spin-orbit term $\xi(r)\mathbf L\cdot\mathbf S$. Which labels are natural: $m_\ell,m_s$ or $j,m_j$?

Solution

The spin-orbit term is invariant under simultaneous rotations generated by $\mathbf J=\mathbf L+\mathbf S$. It generally does not commute with $L_z$ and $S_z$ separately, so $m_\ell$ and $m_s$ are not exact labels for the coupled Hamiltonian. The natural labels are those of the coupled basis, including $j$ and $m_j$, together with any remaining good labels such as $\ell$ and $s$ in the simple central model.

4. Suppose $Q$ commutes with $H_0$ but not with a perturbation $V$, and $H=H_0+\epsilon V$. In what sense can $q$ still be useful?

Solution

For $\epsilon=0$, $q$ is an exact good quantum number. For small $\epsilon$, the exact eigenstates of $H$ may remain close to eigenstates of $Q$, so $q$ can be useful as an approximate label or as the label of a zeroth-order basis. But because $[V,Q]\ne0$, $q$ is not exactly conserved by the full Hamiltonian.