Application of matrix mechanics to the asymmetric rotor in the high-spin limit

The triaxial quantum rotor is studied for large values of angular momentum by the methods of matrix mechanics. Interest is focused on states in the neighborhood of the ground state (yrast state) for a prescribed value of the angular momentum, corresponding to the wobbling motion of classical mechanics. An algorithm is described for obtaining the energy values and the matrix elements of the angular momentum operators in the intrinsic frame, to arbitrary order, as power series in the reciprocal of the numerical value of the angular momentum quantum number, starting with assigned semiclassical values. The program is carried out analytically up to the third approximation. Conditions of validity are given. The structure of the wave functions is described.

NUCLEAR STRUCTURE Asymmetric rotor, solution by matrix mechanics, high spin.