A method of moments for the optical Jahn-Teller problem

A Method of moments is presented for optical transitions to Jahn-Teller states. The Condon and a modified Born-Oppenheimer approximation have been adopted. On the basis of these 2 principles, the method is exact. Specific orthonormality and closure properties are derived for Jahn-Teller states, which are essential for performing the calculation. As illustrative examples the pure Jahn-Teller casesE-e andT-t have been calculated in the strong coupling limit. Each of these cases leads to specific combinatorial problems and to an application of Wick's theorem. The latter is common to both cases. Comparison with the semi-classical calculation reveals the identity of the results for theE- e system.