Angular momentum algebra, Wigner-Eckart theorem

Let us now apply the theorem to some selected expectation values. In several of the expectation values we will meet when evaluating explicit matrix elements, we will have to deal with expectation values involving spherical harmonics. A general central interaction can be expanded in a complete set of functions like the Legendre polynomials, that is, we have an interaction, with \( r_{ij}=|{\bf r}_i-{\bf r}_j| \), $$ v(r_{ij})=\sum_{\nu=0}^{\infty}v_{\nu}(r_{ij})P_{\nu}(\cos{(\theta_{ij})}, $$ with \( P_{\nu} \) being a Legendre polynomials $$ P_{\nu}(\cos{(\theta_{ij})}=\sum_{\mu}\frac{4\pi}{2\mu+1}Y_{\mu}^{\nu *}(\Omega_{i})Y_{\mu}^{\nu}(\Omega_{j}). $$ We will come back later to how we split the above into a contribution that involves only one of the coordinates.