Alignment of wave functions for angular momentum projection

Angular momentum projection is used to obtain eigen states of angular momentum from general wave functions. Multi-configuration mixing calculation with angular momentum projection is an important microscopic method in nuclear physics. For accurate multi-configuration mixing calculation with angular momentum projection, concentrated distribution of $z$ components $K$ of angular momentum in the body-fixed frame ($K$-distribution) is favored. Orientation of wave functions strongly affects $K$-distribution. Minimization of variance of $\hat{J}_z$ is proposed as an alignment method to obtain wave functions that have concentrated $K$-distribution. Benchmark calculations are performed for $\alpha$-$^{24}$Mg cluster structure, triaxially superdeformed states in $^{40}$Ar, and Hartree-Fock states of some nuclei. The proposed alignment method is useful and works well for various wave functions to obtain concentrated $K$-distribution.