The angular momentum algebra can often be simplified by recasting it in the spherical basis. Using the notation of spherical tensor operators, the "−1", "0" and "+1" components of J ≡ J are given by J − − 1 ( 1 ) = 1 2 ( J x − − i J y ) = J − − 2 , J 0 ( 1 ) = J z , J + 1 ( 1 ) = − − 1 2 ( J x + i J y ) = − − J + 2 .