Symbols characterizing the states of atoms and molecules in terms of multiplicity, symmetry of the total electronic wavefunction, and sometimes total (orbital + spin) @A00353@. Examples: \(^{2}\text{P}_{1/2}\) denotes an atomic state of multiplicity 2 (doublet), electron orbital @A00353@ quantum number \(L=1\), and orbital plus spin @A00353@ quantum number \(J=\frac{1}{2}\).