Wigner-Eckart theorem [`wig·nǝr `ek·ǝrt ´thir·ǝm] QUANTUM MECHANICS A theorem in the quantum theory of angular momentum which states that the matrix elements of a tensor operator can be factored into two quantities, the first of which is a vector-coupling coefficient, and the second of which contains the information about the physical properties of the particular states and operator, and is completely independent of the magnetic quantum numbers. |