10.15 Generators to Study Continuous Groups, We Will Use Calculus And

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

10.15 Generators to Study Continuous Groups, We Will Use Calculus And 10.15 Generators 429 10.15 Generators To study continuous groups, we will use calculus and algebra, and we will focus on the simplest part of the group—the elements g(↵) for ↵ 0which ⇡ are near the identity e = g(0) for which all ↵a = 0. Each element g(↵) of the group is represented by a matrix D(↵) D(g(↵)) in the D representation of ⌘ the group and by another matrix D (↵) D (g(↵)) in any other D repre- 0 ⌘ 0 0 sentation of the group. Every representation respects the multiplication law of the group. So if g(β)g(↵)=g(γ), then the matrices of the D representa- tion must satisfy D(β)D(↵)=D(γ), and those of any other representation D0 must satisfy D0(β)D0(↵)=D0(γ). A generator ta of a representation D is the partial derivative of the matrix D(↵) with respect to the component ↵a of ↵ evaluated at ↵ =0 @D(↵) t = i . (10.57) a − @↵ a ↵=0 When all the parameters ↵ are infinitesimal, ↵ 1, the matrix D(↵)is a | a|⌧ very close to the identity matrix I D(↵) I + i ↵ t . (10.58) ' a a a X Replacing ↵ by ↵/n, we get a relation that becomes exact as n !1 ↵ ↵ D = I + i a t . (10.59) n n a a ⇣ ⌘ X The nth power of this equation is the matrix D(↵) that represents the group element g(↵)intheexponential parametrization n ↵ n ↵a D(↵)=D =lim I + i ta =exp i ↵a ta . (10.60) n n n !1 a ! a ! ⇣ ⌘ X X The i’s appear in these equations so that when the generators ta are hermitian matrices, (ta)† = ta, and the ↵’s are real, the matrices D(↵) are unitary 1 D− (↵)= exp i ↵ t = D†(↵)=exp i ↵ t . (10.61) − a a − a a a ! a ! X X Compact groups have finite-dimensional, unitary representations with her- mitian generators. 430 Group theory 10.16 Lie algebra If ta and tb are any two generators of a representation D, then the matrices D(↵)=ei✏ta and D(β)=ei✏tb (10.62) represent the group elements g(↵) and g(β) with infinitesimal exponential parameters ↵i = ✏ia and βi = ✏ib. The inverses of these group elements g 1(↵)=g( ↵) and g 1(β)=g( β) are represented by the matrices − − − − D( ↵)=e i✏ta and D( β)=e i✏tb . The multiplication law of the group − − − − determines the parameters γ(↵,β) of the product g(β) g(↵) g( β) g( ↵)=g(γ(↵,β)). (10.63) − − The matrices of any two representations D with generators ta and D0 with generators ta0 obey the same multiplication law D(β) D(↵) D( β) D( ↵)=D(γ(↵,β)) − − (10.64) D0(β) D0(↵) D0( β) D0( ↵)=D0(γ(↵,β)) − − with the same infinitesimal exponential parameters ↵,β, and γ(↵,β). To order ✏2, the product of the four D’s is 2 2 i✏t i✏ta i✏t i✏ta ✏ 2 ✏ 2 e b e e− b e− (1 + i✏t t )(1 + i✏t t ) ⇡ b − 2 b a − 2 a ✏2 ✏2 (10.65) (1 i✏t t2)(1 i✏t t2) ⇥ − b − 2 b − a − 2 a 1+✏2(t t t t )=1+✏2[t ,t ]. ⇡ a b − b a a b The other representation gives the same result but with primes i✏t i✏t i✏t i✏t 2 e b0 e a0 e− b0 e− a0 1+✏ [t0 ,t0 ]. (10.66) ⇡ a b The products (10.65 & 10.66) represent the same group element g(γ(↵,β)), so they have the same infinitesimal parameters γ(↵,β) and therefore are the same linear combinations of their respective generators tc and tc0 n D(γ(↵,β)) 1+✏2[t ,t ]=1+i✏2 f c t ⇡ a b ab c c=1 Xn (10.67) 2 2 c D0(γ(↵,β)) 1+✏ [t0 ,t0 ]=1+i✏ f t0 . ⇡ a b ab c c=1 X which in turn imply the Lie algebra formulas n n c c [ta,tb]= fab tc and [ta0 ,tb0 ]= fab tc0 . (10.68) c=1 c=1 X X 10.16 Lie algebra 431 The commutator of any two generators is a linear combination of c the generators. The coefficients f ab are the structure constants of the group. They are the same for all representations of the group. Unless the parameters ↵a are redundant, the generators are linearly in- dependent. They span a vector space, and any linear combination may be called a generator. By using the Gram-Schmidt procedure (section 1.10), we may make the generators ta orthogonal with respect to the inner product (1.91) (ta,tb)=Tr ta† tb = kδab (10.69) ⇣ ⌘ in which k is a nonnegative normalization constant that depends upon the representation. We can’t normalize the generators, making k unity, because c the structure constants fab are the same in all representations. In what follows, I will often omit the summation symbol when an index is repeated. In this notation, the structure-constant formulas (10.68) are P c c [ta,tb]=fab tc and [ta0 ,tb0 ]=fab tc0 . (10.70) This summation convention avoids unnecessary summation symbols. By multiplying both sides of the first of the two Lie algebra formulas (10.68) by td† and using the orthogonality (10.69) of the generators, we find c c d Tr [ta,tb] td† = if ab Tr tc td† = if ab kδcd = ik f ab (10.71) ⇣ ⌘ ⇣ ⌘ c which implies that the structure constant f ab is the trace c i f = Tr [t ,t ] t† . (10.72) ab −k a b c ⇣ ⌘ Because of the antisymmetry of the commutator [ta,tb], structure constants are antisymmetric in their lower indices f c = f c . (10.73) ab − ba From any n n matrix A, one may make a hermitian matrix A + A and ⇥ † an antihermitian one A A†. Thus, one may separate the nG generators − (h) (ah) into a set that are hermitian ta and a set that are antihermitian ta . The exponential of any imaginary linear combination of n n hermitian (h) ⇥ generators D(↵)=exp i↵ ta is an n n unitary matrix since a ⇥ ⇣ ⌘ (h) (h) 1 D†(↵)=exp i↵ t† =exp i↵ t = D− (↵). (10.74) − a a − a a ⇣ ⌘ ⇣ ⌘ 432 Group theory A group with only hermitian generators is compact and has finite-dimensional unitary representations. On the other hand, the exponential of any imaginary linear combination (ah) of antihermitian generators D(↵)=exp i↵a ta is a real exponential of (ah) their hermitian counterparts ita whose⇣ squared⌘ norm 2 (ah) D(↵) =Tr D(↵)†D(↵) =Tr exp 2↵ it (10.75) k k a a h i h ⇣ ⌘i grows exponentially and without limit as the parameters ↵ .A a !±1 group with some antihermitian generators is noncompact and does not have finite-dimensional unitary representations. (The unitary representa- tions of the translations and of the Lorentz and Poincar´egroups are infinite dimensional.) Compact Lie groups have hermitian generators, and so the structure- constant formula (10.72) reduces in this case to c f =( i/k)Tr [t ,t ] t† =( i/k)Tr ([t ,t ] t ) . (10.76) ab − a b c − a b c ⇣ ⌘ Now, since the trace is cyclic, we have f b =( i/k)Tr ([t ,t ] t )=( i/k)Tr (t t t t t t ) ac − a c b − a c b − c a b =( i/k)Tr (t t t t t t ) − b a c − a b c =( i/k)Tr ([t ,t ] t )=f c = f c . (10.77) − b a c ba − ab Interchanging a and b, we get f a = f c = f c . (10.78) bc ab − ba Finally, interchanging b and c in (10.77) gives f c = f b = f b . (10.79) ab ca − ac Combining (10.77, 10.78, & 10.79), we see that the structure constants of a compact Lie group are totally antisymmetric f b = f b = f c = f c = f a = f a . (10.80) ac − ca ba − ab − bc cb Because of this antisymmetry, it is usual to lower the upper index c f ab = fcab = fabc (10.81) and write the antisymmetry of the structure constants of compact Lie groups as f = f = f = f = f = f . (10.82) acb − cab bac − abc − bca cba 10.17 The Rotation Group 433 For compact Lie groups, the generators are hermitian, and so the struc- ture constants fabc are real, as we may see by taking the complex con- jugate of the formula (10.76) for fabc f ⇤ =(i/k)Tr (t [t ,t ]) = ( i/k)Tr ([t ,t ] t )=f . (10.83) abc c b a − a b c abc It follows from (10.68 & 10.81–10.83) that the commutator of any two generators of a Lie group is a linear combination c [ta,tb]=ifab tc (10.84) of its generators t , and that the structure constants f f c are c abc ⌘ ab real and totally antisymmetric if the group is compact. Example 10.19 (Gauge Transformation) The action density of a Yang- Mills theory is unchanged when a spacetime dependent unitary matrix U(x) changes a vector (x) of matter fields to 0(x)=U(x) (x). Terms like † are invariant because †(x)U †(x)U(x) (x)= †(x) (x), but how can i kinetic terms like @i † @ be made invariant? Yang and Mills introduced matrices Ai of gauge fields, replaced ordinary derivatives @i by covariant derivatives D @ + A , and required that D = UD or that i ⌘ i i i0 0 i @i + Ai0 U = @iU + U@i + Ai0 U = U (@i + Ai) .
Recommended publications
  • Unitary Group - Wikipedia
    Unitary group - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_group Unitary group In mathematics, the unitary group of degree n, denoted U( n), is the group of n × n unitary matrices, with the group operation of matrix multiplication. The unitary group is a subgroup of the general linear group GL( n, C). Hyperorthogonal group is an archaic name for the unitary group, especially over finite fields. For the group of unitary matrices with determinant 1, see Special unitary group. In the simple case n = 1, the group U(1) corresponds to the circle group, consisting of all complex numbers with absolute value 1 under multiplication. All the unitary groups contain copies of this group. The unitary group U( n) is a real Lie group of dimension n2. The Lie algebra of U( n) consists of n × n skew-Hermitian matrices, with the Lie bracket given by the commutator. The general unitary group (also called the group of unitary similitudes ) consists of all matrices A such that A∗A is a nonzero multiple of the identity matrix, and is just the product of the unitary group with the group of all positive multiples of the identity matrix. Contents Properties Topology Related groups 2-out-of-3 property Special unitary and projective unitary groups G-structure: almost Hermitian Generalizations Indefinite forms Finite fields Degree-2 separable algebras Algebraic groups Unitary group of a quadratic module Polynomial invariants Classifying space See also Notes References Properties Since the determinant of a unitary matrix is a complex number with norm 1, the determinant gives a group 1 of 7 2/23/2018, 10:13 AM Unitary group - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_group homomorphism The kernel of this homomorphism is the set of unitary matrices with determinant 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Be the Integral Symplectic Group and S(G) Be the Set of All Positive Integers Which Can Occur As the Order of an Element in G
    FINITE ORDER ELEMENTS IN THE INTEGRAL SYMPLECTIC GROUP KUMAR BALASUBRAMANIAN, M. RAM MURTY, AND KARAM DEO SHANKHADHAR Abstract For g 2 N, let G = Sp(2g; Z) be the integral symplectic group and S(g) be the set of all positive integers which can occur as the order of an element in G. In this paper, we show that S(g) is a bounded subset of R for all positive integers g. We also study the growth of the functions f(g) = jS(g)j, and h(g) = maxfm 2 N j m 2 S(g)g and show that they have at least exponential growth. 1. Introduction Given a group G and a positive integer m 2 N, it is natural to ask if there exists k 2 G such that o(k) = m, where o(k) denotes the order of the element k. In this paper, we make some observations about the collection of positive integers which can occur as orders of elements in G = Sp(2g; Z). Before we proceed further we set up some notations and briefly mention the questions studied in this paper. Let G = Sp(2g; Z) be the group of all 2g × 2g matrices with integral entries satisfying > A JA = J 0 I where A> is the transpose of the matrix A and J = g g . −Ig 0g α1 αk Throughout we write m = p1 : : : pk , where pi is a prime and αi > 0 for all i 2 f1; 2; : : : ; kg. We also assume that the primes pi are such that pi < pi+1 for 1 ≤ i < k.
    [Show full text]
  • The Classical Groups and Domains 1. the Disk, Upper Half-Plane, SL 2(R
    (June 8, 2018) The Classical Groups and Domains Paul Garrett [email protected] http:=/www.math.umn.edu/egarrett/ The complex unit disk D = fz 2 C : jzj < 1g has four families of generalizations to bounded open subsets in Cn with groups acting transitively upon them. Such domains, defined more precisely below, are bounded symmetric domains. First, we recall some standard facts about the unit disk, the upper half-plane, the ambient complex projective line, and corresponding groups acting by linear fractional (M¨obius)transformations. Happily, many of the higher- dimensional bounded symmetric domains behave in a manner that is a simple extension of this simplest case. 1. The disk, upper half-plane, SL2(R), and U(1; 1) 2. Classical groups over C and over R 3. The four families of self-adjoint cones 4. The four families of classical domains 5. Harish-Chandra's and Borel's realization of domains 1. The disk, upper half-plane, SL2(R), and U(1; 1) The group a b GL ( ) = f : a; b; c; d 2 ; ad − bc 6= 0g 2 C c d C acts on the extended complex plane C [ 1 by linear fractional transformations a b az + b (z) = c d cz + d with the traditional natural convention about arithmetic with 1. But we can be more precise, in a form helpful for higher-dimensional cases: introduce homogeneous coordinates for the complex projective line P1, by defining P1 to be a set of cosets u 1 = f : not both u; v are 0g= × = 2 − f0g = × P v C C C where C× acts by scalar multiplication.
    [Show full text]
  • The Symplectic Group
    Sp(n), THE SYMPLECTIC GROUP CONNIE FAN 1. Introduction t ¯ 1.1. Definition. Sp(n)= (n, H)= A Mn(H) A A = I is the symplectic group. O { 2 | } 1.2. Example. Sp(1) = z M1(H) z =1 { 2 || | } = z = a + ib + jc + kd a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 =1 { | } 3 ⇠= S 2. The Lie Algebra sp(n) t ¯ 2.1. Definition. AmatrixA Mn(H)isskew-symplecticif A + A =0. 2 t ¯ 2.2. Definition. sp(n)= A Mn(H) A + A =0 is the Lie algebra of Sp(n) with commutator bracket [A,B]{ 2 = AB -| BA. } Proof. This was proven in class. ⇤ 2.3. Fact. sp(n) is a real vector space. Proof. Let A, B sp(n)anda, b R 2 2 (aA + bB)+taA + bB = a(A + tA¯)+b(B + tB¯)=0 ⇤ 1 2.4. Fact. The dimension of sp(n)is(2n +1)n. Proof. Let A sp(n). 2 a11 + ib11 + jc11 + kd11 a12 + ib12 + jc12 + kd12 ... a1n + ib1n + jc1n + kd1n . A = . .. 0 . 1 an1 + ibn1 + jcn1 + kdn1 an2 + ibn2 + jcn2 + kdn2 ... ann + ibnn + jcnn + kdnn @ A Then A + tA¯ = 2a11 (a12 + a21)+i(b12 b21)+j(c12 c21)+k(d12 d21) ... (a1n + an1)+i(b1n bn1)+j(c1n cn1)+k(d1n dn1) − − − − − − (a21 + a12)+i(b21 b12)+j(c21 c12)+k(d21 d12)2a22 ... (a2n + an2)+i(b2n bn2)+j(c2n cn2)+k(d2n dn2) − − − − − − 0 . 1 . .. B . C B C B(a1n + an1)+i(b1n bn1)+j(c1n cn1)+k(d1n dn1) ... 2ann C @ − − − A t 2 A + A¯ =0,so: axx =0, x 0degreesoffreedom 8 ! n(n 1) − axy = ayx,x= y 2 degrees of freedom − 6 !n(n 1) − bxy = byx,x= y 2 degrees of freedom 6 ! n(n 1) − cxy = cyx,x= y 2 degrees of freedom 6 ! n(n 1) − dxy = dyx,x= y 2 degrees of freedom b ,c ,d unrestricted,6 ! x 3n degrees of freedom xx xx xx 8 ! In total, dim(sp(n)) = 2n2 + n = n(2n +1) ⇤ 2.5.
    [Show full text]
  • Differential Topology: Exercise Sheet 3
    Prof. Dr. M. Wolf WS 2018/19 M. Heinze Sheet 3 Differential Topology: Exercise Sheet 3 Exercises (for Nov. 21th and 22th) 3.1 Smooth maps Prove the following: (a) A map f : M ! N between smooth manifolds (M; A); (N; B) is smooth if and only if for all x 2 M there are pairs (U; φ) 2 A; (V; ) 2 B such that x 2 U, f(U) ⊂ V and ◦ f ◦ φ−1 : φ(U) ! (V ) is smooth. (b) Compositions of smooth maps between subsets of smooth manifolds are smooth. Solution: (a) As the charts of a smooth structure cover the manifold the above property is certainly necessary for smoothness of f : M ! N. To show that it is also sufficient, consider two arbitrary charts U;~ φ~ 2 A and V;~ ~ 2 B. We need to prove that the map ~ ◦ f ◦ φ~−1 : φ~(U~) ! ~(V~ ) is smooth. Therefore consider an arbitrary y 2 φ~(U~) such that there is some x 2 M such that x = φ~−1(y). By assumption there are charts (U; φ) 2 A; (V; ) 2 B such that x 2 U, −1 f(U) ⊂ V and ◦ f ◦ φ : φ(U) ! (V ) is smooth. Now we choose U0;V0 such ~ ~ that x 2 U0 ⊂ U \ U and f(x) 2 V0 ⊂ V \ V and therefore we can write ~ ~−1 ~ −1 −1 ~−1 ◦ f ◦ φ j = ◦ ◦ ◦ f ◦ φ ◦ φ ◦ φ : (1) φ~(U0) As a composition of smooth maps, we showed that ~ ◦ f ◦ φ~−1j is smooth. As φ~(U0) x 2 M was chosen arbitrarily we proved that ~ ◦ f ◦ φ~−1 is a smooth map.
    [Show full text]
  • Hamiltonian and Symplectic Symmetries: an Introduction
    BULLETIN (New Series) OF THE AMERICAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY Volume 54, Number 3, July 2017, Pages 383–436 http://dx.doi.org/10.1090/bull/1572 Article electronically published on March 6, 2017 HAMILTONIAN AND SYMPLECTIC SYMMETRIES: AN INTRODUCTION ALVARO´ PELAYO In memory of Professor J.J. Duistermaat (1942–2010) Abstract. Classical mechanical systems are modeled by a symplectic mani- fold (M,ω), and their symmetries are encoded in the action of a Lie group G on M by diffeomorphisms which preserve ω. These actions, which are called sym- plectic, have been studied in the past forty years, following the works of Atiyah, Delzant, Duistermaat, Guillemin, Heckman, Kostant, Souriau, and Sternberg in the 1970s and 1980s on symplectic actions of compact Abelian Lie groups that are, in addition, of Hamiltonian type, i.e., they also satisfy Hamilton’s equations. Since then a number of connections with combinatorics, finite- dimensional integrable Hamiltonian systems, more general symplectic actions, and topology have flourished. In this paper we review classical and recent re- sults on Hamiltonian and non-Hamiltonian symplectic group actions roughly starting from the results of these authors. This paper also serves as a quick introduction to the basics of symplectic geometry. 1. Introduction Symplectic geometry is concerned with the study of a notion of signed area, rather than length, distance, or volume. It can be, as we will see, less intuitive than Euclidean or metric geometry and it is taking mathematicians many years to understand its intricacies (which is work in progress). The word “symplectic” goes back to the 1946 book [164] by Hermann Weyl (1885–1955) on classical groups.
    [Show full text]
  • Symplectic Group and Heisenberg Group in P-Adic Quantum Mechanics
    SYMPLECTIC GROUP AND HEISENBERG GROUP IN p-ADIC QUANTUM MECHANICS SEN HU & ZHI HU ABSTRACT. This paper treats mathematically some problems in p-adic quantum mechanics. We first deal with p-adic symplectic group corresponding to the symmetry on the classical phase space. By the filtrations of isotropic subspaces and almost self-dual lattices in the p-adic symplectic vector space, we explicitly give the expressions of parabolic subgroups, maximal compact subgroups and corresponding Iwasawa decompositions of some symplectic groups. For a triple of Lagrangian subspaces, we associated it with a quadratic form whose Hasse invariant is calculated. Next we study the various equivalent realizations of unique irreducible and admissible representation of p-adic Heisenberg group. For the Schrödinger representation, we can define Weyl operator and its kernel function, while for the induced representations from the characters of maximal abelian subgroups of Heisenberg group generated by the isotropic subspaces or self-dual lattice in the p-adic symplectic vector space, we calculate the Maslov index defined via the intertwining operators corresponding to the representation transformation operators in quantum mechanics. CONTENTS 1. Introduction 1 2. Brief Review of p-adic Analysis 2 3. p-adic Symplectic Group 3 3.1. Isotropic subspaces and parabolic subgroups 3 3.2. Lagrangian subspaces and quadratic forms 4 3.3. Latices and maximal compact subgroups 6 4. p-adic Heisenberg Group 8 4.1. Schrödinger representations and Weyl operators 8 4.2. Induced representations and Maslov indices 11 References 14 1. INTRODUCTION It seems that there is no prior reason for opposing the fascinating idea that at the very small (Planck) scale the geometry of the spacetime should be non-Archimedean.
    [Show full text]
  • Universal Enveloping Algebras and Some Applications in Physics
    Universal enveloping algebras and some applications in physics Xavier BEKAERT Institut des Hautes Etudes´ Scientifiques 35, route de Chartres 91440 – Bures-sur-Yvette (France) Octobre 2005 IHES/P/05/26 IHES/P/05/26 Universal enveloping algebras and some applications in physics Xavier Bekaert Institut des Hautes Etudes´ Scientifiques Le Bois-Marie, 35 route de Chartres 91440 Bures-sur-Yvette, France [email protected] Abstract These notes are intended to provide a self-contained and peda- gogical introduction to the universal enveloping algebras and some of their uses in mathematical physics. After reviewing their abstract definitions and properties, the focus is put on their relevance in Weyl calculus, in representation theory and their appearance as higher sym- metries of physical systems. Lecture given at the first Modave Summer School in Mathematical Physics (Belgium, June 2005). These lecture notes are written by a layman in abstract algebra and are aimed for other aliens to this vast and dry planet, therefore many basic definitions are reviewed. Indeed, physicists may be unfamiliar with the daily- life terminology of mathematicians and translation rules might prove to be useful in order to have access to the mathematical literature. Each definition is particularized to the finite-dimensional case to gain some intuition and make contact between the abstract definitions and familiar objects. The lecture notes are divided into four sections. In the first section, several examples of associative algebras that will be used throughout the text are provided. Associative and Lie algebras are also compared in order to motivate the introduction of enveloping algebras. The Baker-Campbell- Haussdorff formula is presented since it is used in the second section where the definitions and main elementary results on universal enveloping algebras (such as the Poincar´e-Birkhoff-Witt) are reviewed in details.
    [Show full text]
  • Special Unitary Group - Wikipedia
    Special unitary group - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_unitary_group Special unitary group In mathematics, the special unitary group of degree n, denoted SU( n), is the Lie group of n×n unitary matrices with determinant 1. (More general unitary matrices may have complex determinants with absolute value 1, rather than real 1 in the special case.) The group operation is matrix multiplication. The special unitary group is a subgroup of the unitary group U( n), consisting of all n×n unitary matrices. As a compact classical group, U( n) is the group that preserves the standard inner product on Cn.[nb 1] It is itself a subgroup of the general linear group, SU( n) ⊂ U( n) ⊂ GL( n, C). The SU( n) groups find wide application in the Standard Model of particle physics, especially SU(2) in the electroweak interaction and SU(3) in quantum chromodynamics.[1] The simplest case, SU(1) , is the trivial group, having only a single element. The group SU(2) is isomorphic to the group of quaternions of norm 1, and is thus diffeomorphic to the 3-sphere. Since unit quaternions can be used to represent rotations in 3-dimensional space (up to sign), there is a surjective homomorphism from SU(2) to the rotation group SO(3) whose kernel is {+ I, − I}. [nb 2] SU(2) is also identical to one of the symmetry groups of spinors, Spin(3), that enables a spinor presentation of rotations. Contents Properties Lie algebra Fundamental representation Adjoint representation The group SU(2) Diffeomorphism with S 3 Isomorphism with unit quaternions Lie Algebra The group SU(3) Topology Representation theory Lie algebra Lie algebra structure Generalized special unitary group Example Important subgroups See also 1 of 10 2/22/2018, 8:54 PM Special unitary group - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_unitary_group Remarks Notes References Properties The special unitary group SU( n) is a real Lie group (though not a complex Lie group).
    [Show full text]
  • Physics of the Lorentz Group
    Physics of the Lorentz Group Physics of the Lorentz Group Sibel Ba¸skal Department of Physics, Middle East Technical University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey e-mail: [email protected] Young S. Kim Center for Fundamental Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, U.S.A. e-mail: [email protected] Marilyn E. Noz Department of Radiology, New York University, New York, NY 10016 U.S.A. e-mail: [email protected] Preface When Newton formulated his law of gravity, he wrote down his formula applicable to two point particles. It took him 20 years to prove that his formula works also for extended objects such as the sun and earth. When Einstein formulated his special relativity in 1905, he worked out the transfor- mation law for point particles. The question is what happens when those particles have space-time extensions. The hydrogen atom is a case in point. The hydrogen atom is small enough to be regarded as a particle obeying Einstein'sp law of Lorentz transformations in- cluding the energy-momentum relation E = p2 + m2. Yet, it is known to have a rich internal space-time structure, rich enough to provide the foundation of quantum mechanics. Indeed, Niels Bohr was interested in why the energy levels of the hydrogen atom are discrete. His interest led to the replacement of the orbit by a standing wave. Before and after 1927, Einstein and Bohr met occasionally to discuss physics. It is possible that they discussed how the hydrogen atom with an electron orbit or as a standing-wave looks to moving observers.
    [Show full text]
  • General Formulas of the Structure Constants in the $\Mathfrak {Su}(N
    General Formulas of the Structure Constants in the su(N) Lie Algebra Duncan Bossion1, ∗ and Pengfei Huo1,2, † 1Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, 14627 2Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, 14627 We provide the analytic expressions of the totally symmetric and anti-symmetric structure con- stants in the su(N) Lie algebra. The derivation is based on a relation linking the index of a generator to the indexes of its non-null elements. The closed formulas obtained to compute the values of the structure constants are simple expressions involving those indexes and can be analytically evaluated without any need of the expression of the generators. We hope that these expressions can be widely used for analytical and computational interest in Physics. The su(N) Lie algebra and their corresponding Lie The indexes Snm, Anm and Dn indicate generators corre- groups are widely used in fundamental physics, partic- sponding to the symmetric, anti-symmetric, and diago- ularly in the Standard Model of particle physics [1, 2]. nal matrices, respectively. The explicit relation between su 1 The (2) Lie algebra is used describe the spin- 2 system. a projection operator m n and the generators can be ˆ ~ found in Ref. [5]. Note| thatih these| generators are traceless Its generators, the spin operators, are j = 2 σj with the S ˆ ˆ ˆ ~2 Pauli matrices Tr[ i] = 0, as well as orthonormal Tr[ i j ]= 2 δij . TheseS higher dimensional su(N) LieS algebraS are com- 0 1 0 i 1 0 σ = , σ = , σ = .
    [Show full text]
  • Lie Algebras from Lie Groups
    Preprint typeset in JHEP style - HYPER VERSION Lecture 8: Lie Algebras from Lie Groups Gregory W. Moore Abstract: Not updated since November 2009. March 27, 2018 -TOC- Contents 1. Introduction 2 2. Geometrical approach to the Lie algebra associated to a Lie group 2 2.1 Lie's approach 2 2.2 Left-invariant vector fields and the Lie algebra 4 2.2.1 Review of some definitions from differential geometry 4 2.2.2 The geometrical definition of a Lie algebra 5 3. The exponential map 8 4. Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff formula 11 4.1 Statement and derivation 11 4.2 Two Important Special Cases 17 4.2.1 The Heisenberg algebra 17 4.2.2 All orders in B, first order in A 18 4.3 Region of convergence 19 5. Abstract Lie Algebras 19 5.1 Basic Definitions 19 5.2 Examples: Lie algebras of dimensions 1; 2; 3 23 5.3 Structure constants 25 5.4 Representations of Lie algebras and Ado's Theorem 26 6. Lie's theorem 28 7. Lie Algebras for the Classical Groups 34 7.1 A useful identity 35 7.2 GL(n; k) and SL(n; k) 35 7.3 O(n; k) 38 7.4 More general orthogonal groups 38 7.4.1 Lie algebra of SO∗(2n) 39 7.5 U(n) 39 7.5.1 U(p; q) 42 7.5.2 Lie algebra of SU ∗(2n) 42 7.6 Sp(2n) 42 8. Central extensions of Lie algebras and Lie algebra cohomology 46 8.1 Example: The Heisenberg Lie algebra and the Lie group associated to a symplectic vector space 47 8.2 Lie algebra cohomology 48 { 1 { 9.
    [Show full text]