Wigner-Eckart Theorem & Clebsch-Gordan Coefficients

The Wigner-Eckart theorem states ⟨j'm'|T^k_q|jm⟩ = ⟨jk;mq|j'm'⟩·⟨j'‖T^k‖j⟩, factoring matrix elements into a geometric part (Clebsch-Gordan coefficient) and a reduced matrix element. Selection rules Δm=q, |j−k| ≤ j' ≤ j+k follow automatically.

j₁ (ket)
j₂ (operator rank)
Left: Clebsch-Gordan coefficient matrix |CG(j₁,m₁;j₂,m₂→J,M)|²  |  Right: selection rule diagram for allowed transitions