PDF) 978-3-11-047623-1 E-ISBN (EPUB) 978-3-11-047520-3 Set-ISBN 978-3-11-047624-8 ISSN 2194–3532

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

PDF) 978-3-11-047623-1 E-ISBN (EPUB) 978-3-11-047520-3 Set-ISBN 978-3-11-047624-8 ISSN 2194–3532 Abram I. Fet Group Theory of Chemical Elements De Gruyter Studies in Mathematical Physics Edited by Michael Efroimsky, Bethesda, Maryland, USA Leonard Gamberg, Reading, Pennsylvania, USA Dmitry Gitman, São Paulo, Brazil Alexander Lazarian, Madison, Wisconsin, USA Boris Smirnov, Moscow, Russia Volume 34 Abram I. Fet Group Theory of Chemical Elements Structure and Properties of Elements and Compounds An electronic version of this book is freely available, thanks to the support of libra- ries working with Knowledge Unlatched. KU is a collaborative initiative designed to make high quality books Open Access. More information about the initiative can be found at www.knowledgeunlatched.org Physics and astronomy classification scheme 2010 02.20.-a, 03.65.Fd, 31.10.+z, 31.15.xh, 82.20.-w Author Abram I. Fet † Translator Vladimir Slepkov Tsvetnoj proezd 17 Kvartira 60 Novosibirsk 630090 Russia [email protected] This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 License, as of February 23, 2017. For details go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. ISBN 978-3-11-047518-0 e-ISBN (PDF) 978-3-11-047623-1 e-ISBN (EPUB) 978-3-11-047520-3 Set-ISBN 978-3-11-047624-8 ISSN 2194–3532 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A CIP catalog record for this book has been applied for at the Library of Congress. Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.dnb.de. © 2016 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston Typesetting: Konvertus, Haarlem Printing and binding: CPI books GmbH, Leck ♾ Printed on acid-free paper Printed in Germany www.degruyter.com Contents Preface to the English edition VII Introduction 1 1 Symmetries of a quantum system 5 1.1. Rotation group in quantum mechanics 5 1.2. Electron in the Coulomb field 14 1.3. Broken symmetry 19 2 Observables of a quantum system 28 2.1. Deriving observables from a symmetry group 28 2.2. Quantum numbers of symmetry groups and their physical meaning 35 3 Lie groups and Lie algebras 39 3.1. Lie groups 39 3.2. Lie algebras 46 3.3. Representations of Lie groups 59 3.4. Universal enveloping algebras and Casimir operators 71 3.5. Tensor product of representations 76 4 The principles of particle classification 81 4.1. The concept of spin 81 4.2. Isotopic spin 85 4.3. SU(3) group 90 4.4. Baryon octet and decuplet 95 4.5. Mass formula in the SU(3) symmetry 101 4.6. SU(6) group 104 4.7. Classification principles in a quantum theory 108 5 The symmetry group of chemical elements 114 5.1. Description of the system of elements 114 5.2. The conformal group 119 5.3. A special representation of the conformal group 126 5.4. The symmetry group of the system of elements 131 5.5. Mass formula for atomic weights 141 VI Contents 6 Classification and chemical properties of elements 145 6.1. Small multiplets and chemical properties 145 6.2. Operators of chemical affinity 150 Appendix A. Fock’s energy spectrum of the hydrogen atom 158 A1. Schrödinger equation in the momentum representation 158 A2. Fock transformation 160 A3. Hydrogen spectrum 165 Appendix B. Representations of some groups 169 B1. Local representations of SO(3) and SO(4) groups 169 B2. Spherical functions and reduction of representations 172 B3. Some representations of SU(3) group 179 References 182 Preface to the English edition It is well known that multi-electron Schrödinger equation can give only approximate solutions. Empirical and semi-empirical methods used to find them are not accu- rate and hence they describe the properties and behavior of chemical elements only approximately. The author of this book applied group-theoretical approach, which proved to be effective in building the system of hadrons, to describe qualitatively the properties of chemical compounds which cannot be derived from the equations. This is the main result of his work. This book is useful in yet another respect. It makes the theory accessible to the reading audience with a general chemical background. The author starts with common, familiar subjects and introduces further the ideas of the physics of symme- try as naturally as possible, so that its origin and meaning can be understood without profound background in mathematical apparatus of quantum physics. This book is in no way purely theoretical. Rather, it has strong connections with experimentally measured properties of chemical elements and their compounds. To compare the theory with experiments, the author considered the properties of ele- ments that are associated with their chemical behavior: ionization potentials, atomic volumes, enthalpies of formation of the elements, polarizability of the atoms, their boiling and melting points, enthalpy of vaporization, electron affinity, energies of ionic lattices, and bonding energies of diatomic molecules and some lanthanide com- pounds. The obtained confirmations of the theory suggested that it would be useful to understand the properties of chemical compounds. These hopes largely justified. This book can be regarded a generalization of the ideas presented in the existing literature on this subject. I express my deep gratitude to my colleagues from different countries whose judgements strengthened my intention to publish the book in English. Rem Khlebopros Introduction This book presents a group description of chemical elements considered as states of a quantum system. Atoms of different elements are viewed as elements of a vector space associated with an irreducible unitary representation of some symmetry group. The elements of the group are carried into each other by operators defined on this group. This approach fundamentally differs from the traditional application of group theory to atomic physics, where a symmetry group is used to carry into each other dif- ferent excited states of the same atom. Besides, we describe heavy particles (hadrons) as representations of unitary groups. This approach follows the model proposed inde- pendently by Gell-Mann and Néeman and developed later in the works of Okubo, Gürsey and Radicati, Pais and other authors. The book “Unitary symmetry theory” by Yu. Rumer and A. Fet was published in 1970, in which these ideas were discussed systematically. While working on the book, Rumer had an idea to apply the same approach to the system of chemical elements. After getting over some difficulties, we laid down a group systematization of elements in our joint work (Rumer and Fet, 1971). Already in this article, we emphasized that the approach implies considering symmetry as related to the atom as a whole rather than to its electron shells only. As a group symmetry, we chose a two-dimensional covering group of SO(4) group. In 1972, B. Konopel’chenko extended the symmetry group up to the conformal group (Rumer and Fet, 1971). Barut (1972) and Barrondo and Novaro (1972) independently described the symmetry from the viewpoint of electron shells. Apparently, this clear differentiation between the symmetry of the elements and the traditional shell model helped us to achieve a clearer understanding of the obtained classification. In particular, I suggested a group description of chemical affinity in Fet (1974, 1975), and a mass formula for atoms in Fet (1979a, 1981). While refining the classification, we noticed, apparently for the first time, that the proper- ties of elements change with some regularity. In particular, each p-, d-, and f-family is distinctly divided into two subfamilies where the properties of the elements change by different laws. The results were compared with experimental data by Byakov et al. (1976) and later, with additional material, by Sorokin. Discussions of the method in scientific articles usually imply a sufficient knowl- edge of Lee groups. However, physicists and chemists usually meet in practice only representations of the three-dimensional rotation group, as it was elaborated by Wigner and Weil in the late 1920s. That is why I wanted to write a book that will be useful for this broad audience rather for a narrow circle of theorists. The work met serious difficulties since the available literature on Lee groups did not provide easy understanding of the ideas of symmetry which have acquired much importance in the Physics these last decades. What we have in this area are either systematic treatises for expert mathematicians or manuals for physicists which imitate these treatises or offer a number of separate applications to special cases. Therefore, I tried to state the main concepts of group theory and Lee algebras briefly, and only as far as it is 2 Introduction necessary to understand the symmetry of particles assuming that the reader has physical or chemical education and some basic knowledge of quantum mechanics. Group theory is explained from the very beginning, starting from the definition of a group. However, it would be desirable for the reader to have some preliminary idea of using rotation group for classification of atomic and molecular energy spectra. Group methods are introduced as necessary and are always illustrated by physical examples. Especially, the physical background of spin and unitary spin is discussed in detail. Therefore, the presentation of the material is “genetic” and inductive rather than deductive, that is, the main attention is paid to the origin and meaning of the concepts rather to the formal exactness of the constructions. In particular, mathemat- ical rigor, though followed when possible, is not an end in itself. We cite only those theorems which are constantly used further, their meaning is discussed in detail but the proofs are usually omitted as well as cumbersome calculations which are cited, when necessary, in the Appendices. First chapter of this book is an introduction to quantum chemical group methods and starts with the traditional applications of the rotation group to the hydrogen atom.
Recommended publications
  • Invariant Differential Operators 1. Derivatives of Group Actions
    (October 28, 2010) Invariant differential operators Paul Garrett [email protected] http:=/www.math.umn.edu/~garrett/ • Derivatives of group actions: Lie algebras • Laplacians and Casimir operators • Descending to G=K • Example computation: SL2(R) • Enveloping algebras and adjoint functors • Appendix: brackets • Appendix: proof of Poincar´e-Birkhoff-Witt We want an intrinsic approach to existence of differential operators invariant under group actions. n n The translation-invariant operators @=@xi on R , and the rotation-invariant Laplacian on R are deceptively- easily proven invariant, as these examples provide few clues about more complicated situations. For example, we expect rotation-invariant Laplacians (second-order operators) on spheres, and we do not want to write a formula in generalized spherical coordinates and verify invariance computationally. Nor do we want to be constrained to imbedding spheres in Euclidean spaces and using the ambient geometry, even though this succeeds for spheres themselves. Another basic example is the operator @2 @2 y2 + @x2 @y2 on the complex upper half-plane H, provably invariant under the linear fractional action of SL2(R), but it is oppressive to verify this directly. Worse, the goal is not merely to verify an expression presented as a deus ex machina, but, rather to systematically generate suitable expressions. An important part of this intention is understanding reasons for the existence of invariant operators, and expressions in coordinates should be a foregone conclusion. (No prior acquaintance with Lie groups or Lie algebras is assumed.) 1. Derivatives of group actions: Lie algebras For example, as usual let > SOn(R) = fk 2 GLn(R): k k = 1n; det k = 1g act on functions f on the sphere Sn−1 ⊂ Rn, by (k · f)(m) = f(mk) with m × k ! mk being right matrix multiplication of the row vector m 2 Rn.
    [Show full text]
  • Minimal Dark Matter Models with Radiative Neutrino Masses
    Master’s thesis Minimal dark matter models with radiative neutrino masses From Lagrangians to observables Simon May 1st June 2018 Advisors: Prof. Dr. Michael Klasen, Dr. Karol Kovařík Institut für Theoretische Physik Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster Contents 1. Introduction 5 2. Experimental and observational evidence 7 2.1. Dark matter . 7 2.2. Neutrino oscillations . 14 3. Gauge theories and the Standard Model of particle physics 19 3.1. Mathematical background . 19 3.1.1. Group and representation theory . 19 3.1.2. Tensors . 27 3.2. Representations of the Lorentz group . 31 3.2.1. Scalars: The (0, 0) representation . 35 1 1 3.2.2. Weyl spinors: The ( 2 , 0) and (0, 2 ) representations . 36 1 1 3.2.3. Dirac spinors: The ( 2 , 0) ⊕ (0, 2 ) representation . 38 3.2.4. Majorana spinors . 40 1 1 3.2.5. Lorentz vectors: The ( 2 , 2 ) representation . 41 3.2.6. Field representations . 42 3.3. Two-component Weyl spinor formalism and van der Waerden notation 44 3.3.1. Definition . 44 3.3.2. Correspondence to the Dirac bispinor formalism . 47 3.4. The Standard Model . 49 3.4.1. Definition of the theory . 52 3.4.2. The Lagrangian . 54 4. Component notation for representations of SU(2) 57 4.1. SU(2) doublets . 59 4.1.1. Basic conventions and transformation of doublets . 60 4.1.2. Dual doublets and scalar product . 61 4.1.3. Transformation of dual doublets . 62 4.1.4. Adjoint doublets . 63 4.1.5. The question of transpose and conjugate doublets .
    [Show full text]
  • Lecture 7 - Complete Reducibility of Representations of Semisimple Algebras
    Lecture 7 - Complete Reducibility of Representations of Semisimple Algebras September 27, 2012 1 New modules from old A few preliminaries are necessary before jumping into the representation theory of semisim- ple algebras. First a word on creating new g-modules from old. Any Lie algebra g has an action on a 1-dimensional vector space (or F itself), given by the trivial action. Second, any action on spaces V and W can be extended to an action on V ⊗ W by forcing the Leibnitz rule: for any basis vector v ⊗ w 2 V ⊗ W we define x:(v ⊗ w) = x:v ⊗ w + v ⊗ x:w (1) One easily checks that x:y:(v ⊗ w) − y:x:(v ⊗ w) = [x; y]:(v ⊗ w). Assuming g has an action on V , it has an action on its dual V ∗ (recall V ∗ is the vector space of linear functionals V ! F), given by (v:f)(x) = −f(x:v) (2) for any functional f : V ! F in V ∗. This is in fact a version of the \forcing the Leibnitz rule." That is, recalling that we defined x:(f(v)) = 0, we define x:f 2 V ∗ implicitly by x: (f(v)) = (x:f)(v) + f(x:v): (3) For any vector spaces V , W , we have an isomorphism Hom(V; W ) ≈ V ∗ ⊗ W; (4) so Hom(V; W ) is a g-module whenever V and W are. This can be defined using the above rules for duals and tensor products, or, equivalently, by again forcing the Leibnitz rule: for F 2 Hom(V; W ), we define x:F 2 Hom(V; W ) implicitly by x:(F (v)) = (x:F )(v) + F (x:v): (5) 1 2 Schur's lemma and Casimir elements Theorem 2.1 (Schur's Lemma) If g has an irreducible representation on gl(V ) and if f 2 End(V ) commutes with every x 2 g, then f is multiplication by a constant.
    [Show full text]
  • An Identity Crisis for the Casimir Operator
    An Identity Crisis for the Casimir Operator Thomas R. Love Department of Mathematics and Department of Physics California State University, Dominguez Hills Carson, CA, 90747 [email protected] April 16, 2006 Abstract 2 P ij The Casimir operator of a Lie algebra L is C = g XiXj and the action of the Casimir operator is usually taken to be C2Y = P ij g XiXjY , with ordinary matrix multiplication. With this defini- tion, the eigenvalues of the Casimir operator depend upon the repre- sentation showing that the action of the Casimir operator is not well defined. We prove that the action of the Casimir operator should 2 P ij be interpreted as C Y = g [Xi, [Xj,Y ]]. This intrinsic definition does not depend upon the representation. Similar results hold for the higher order Casimir operators. We construct higher order Casimir operators which do not exist in the standard theory including a new type of Casimir operator which defines a complex structure and third order intrinsic Casimir operators for so(3) and so(3, 1). These opera- tors are not multiples of the identity. The standard theory of Casimir operators predicts neither the correct operators nor the correct num- ber of invariant operators. The quantum theory of angular momentum and spin, Wigner’s classification of elementary particles as represen- tations of the Poincar´eGroup and quark theory are based on faulty mathematics. The “no-go theorems” are shown to be invalid. PACS 02.20S 1 1 Introduction Lie groups and Lie algebras play a fundamental role in classical mechan- ics, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, relativity, and elementary particle physics.
    [Show full text]
  • A Quantum Group in the Yang-Baxter Algebra
    A Quantum Group in the Yang-Baxter Algebra Alexandros Aerakis December 8, 2013 Abstract In these notes we mainly present theory on abstract algebra and how it emerges in the Yang-Baxter equation. First we review what an associative algebra is and then introduce further structures such as coalgebra, bialgebra and Hopf algebra. Then we discuss the con- struction of an universal enveloping algebra and how by deforming U[sl(2)] we obtain the quantum group Uq[sl(2)]. Finally, we discover that the latter is actually the Braid limit of the Yang-Baxter alge- bra and we use our algebraic knowledge to obtain the elements of its representation. Contents 1 Algebras 1 1.1 Bialgebra and Hopf algebra . 1 1.2 Universal enveloping algebra . 4 1.3 The quantum Uq[sl(2)] . 7 2 The Yang-Baxter algebra and the quantum Uq[sl(2)] 10 1 Algebras 1.1 Bialgebra and Hopf algebra To start with, the most familiar algebraic structure is surely that of an asso- ciative algebra. Definition 1 An associative algebra A over a field C is a linear vector space V equipped with 1 • Multiplication m : A ⊗ A ! A which is { bilinear { associative m(1 ⊗ m) = m(m ⊗ 1) that pictorially corresponds to the commutative diagram A ⊗ A ⊗ A −−−!1⊗m A ⊗ A ? ? ? ?m ym⊗1 y A ⊗ A −−−!m A • Unit η : C !A which satisfies the axiom m(η ⊗ 1) = m(1 ⊗ η) = 1: =∼ =∼ A ⊗ C A C ⊗ A ^ m 1⊗η > η⊗1 < A ⊗ A By reversing the arrows we get another structure which is called coalgebra.
    [Show full text]
  • Arxiv:2009.00393V2 [Hep-Th] 26 Jan 2021 Supersymmetric Localisation and the Conformal Bootstrap
    Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Applications SIGMA 17 (2021), 007, 38 pages Harmonic Analysis in d-Dimensional Superconformal Field Theory Ilija BURIC´ DESY, Notkestraße 85, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany E-mail: [email protected] Received September 02, 2020, in final form January 15, 2021; Published online January 25, 2021 https://doi.org/10.3842/SIGMA.2021.007 Abstract. Superconformal blocks and crossing symmetry equations are among central in- gredients in any superconformal field theory. We review the approach to these objects rooted in harmonic analysis on the superconformal group that was put forward in [J. High Energy Phys. 2020 (2020), no. 1, 159, 40 pages, arXiv:1904.04852] and [J. High Energy Phys. 2020 (2020), no. 10, 147, 44 pages, arXiv:2005.13547]. After lifting conformal four-point functions to functions on the superconformal group, we explain how to obtain compact expressions for crossing constraints and Casimir equations. The later allow to write superconformal blocks as finite sums of spinning bosonic blocks. Key words: conformal blocks; crossing equations; Calogero{Sutherland models 2020 Mathematics Subject Classification: 81R05; 81R12 1 Introduction Conformal field theories (CFTs) are a class of quantum field theories that are interesting for several reasons. On the one hand, they describe the critical behaviour of statistical mechanics systems such as the Ising model. Indeed, the identification of two-dimensional statistical systems with CFT minimal models, first suggested in [2], was a celebrated early achievement in the field. For similar reasons, conformal theories classify universality classes of quantum field theories in the Wilsonian renormalisation group paradigm. On the other hand, CFTs also play a role in the description of physical systems that do not posses scale invariance, through certain \dualities".
    [Show full text]
  • Quantum Mechanics 2 Tutorial 9: the Lorentz Group
    Quantum Mechanics 2 Tutorial 9: The Lorentz Group Yehonatan Viernik December 27, 2020 1 Remarks on Lie Theory and Representations 1.1 Casimir elements and the Cartan subalgebra Let us first give loose definitions, and then discuss their implications. A Cartan subalgebra for semi-simple1 Lie algebras is an abelian subalgebra with the nice property that op- erators in the adjoint representation of the Cartan can be diagonalized simultaneously. Often it is claimed to be the largest commuting subalgebra, but this is actually slightly wrong. A correct version of this statement is that the Cartan is the maximal subalgebra that is both commuting and consisting of simultaneously diagonalizable operators in the adjoint. Next, a Casimir element is something that is constructed from the algebra, but is not actually part of the algebra. Its main property is that it commutes with all the generators of the algebra. The most commonly used one is the quadratic Casimir, which is typically just the sum of squares of the generators of the algebra 2 2 2 2 (e.g. L = Lx + Ly + Lz is a quadratic Casimir of so(3)). We now need to say what we mean by \square" 2 and \commutes", because the Lie algebra itself doesn't have these notions. For example, Lx is meaningless in terms of elements of so(3). As a matrix, once a representation is specified, it of course gains meaning, because matrices are endowed with multiplication. But the Lie algebra only has the Lie bracket and linear combinations to work with. So instead, the Casimir is living inside a \larger" algebra called the universal enveloping algebra, where the Lie bracket is realized as an explicit commutator.
    [Show full text]
  • Symmetries, Fields and Particles Michaelmas 2014, Prof
    University of Cambridge Part III of the Mathematical Tripos Symmetries, Fields and Particles Michaelmas 2014, Prof. N. Manton Notes by: Diagrams by: William I. Jay Ben Nachman Edited and updated by: Nicholas S. Manton Last updated on September 23, 2014 Preface William Jay typeset these notes from the Cambridge Mathematics Part III course Symmetries, Fields and Particles in Spring 2013. Some material amplifies or rephrases the lectures. N. Manton edited and updated these notes in Autumn 2013, with further minor changes in Autumn 2014. If you find errors, please contact [email protected]. Thanks to Ben Nachman for producing all of the diagrams in these notes. 1 Contents 1 Introduction to Particles 5 1.1 Standard Model Fields . .5 1.1.1 Fermions: Spin 1/2 (\matter") . .5 1.1.2 Bosons: Spin 0 or 1 . .6 1.2 Observed Particles (of \long life") . .6 1.3 Further Remarks on Particles . .6 1.3.1 Mass of gauge bosons . .6 1.3.2 The Poincar´eSymmetry . .6 1.3.3 Approximate Symmetries . .7 1.4 Particle Models . .7 1.5 Forces and Processes . .7 1.5.1 Strong Nuclear Force (quarks, gluons, SU(3) gauge fields) . .7 1.5.2 Electroweak Forces . .8 2 Symmetry 10 2.1 Symmetry . 10 3 Lie Groups and Lie Algebras 12 3.1 Subgroups of G ....................................... 12 3.2 Matrix Lie Groups . 12 3.2.1 Important Subgroups of GL(n).......................... 13 3.2.2 A Remark on Subgroups Defined Algebraically . 14 3.3 Lie Algebras . 15 3.3.1 Lie Algebra of SO(2)...............................
    [Show full text]
  • Lie Algebras by Shlomo Sternberg
    Lie algebras Shlomo Sternberg April 23, 2004 2 Contents 1 The Campbell Baker Hausdorff Formula 7 1.1 The problem. 7 1.2 The geometric version of the CBH formula. 8 1.3 The Maurer-Cartan equations. 11 1.4 Proof of CBH from Maurer-Cartan. 14 1.5 The differential of the exponential and its inverse. 15 1.6 The averaging method. 16 1.7 The Euler MacLaurin Formula. 18 1.8 The universal enveloping algebra. 19 1.8.1 Tensor product of vector spaces. 20 1.8.2 The tensor product of two algebras. 21 1.8.3 The tensor algebra of a vector space. 21 1.8.4 Construction of the universal enveloping algebra. 22 1.8.5 Extension of a Lie algebra homomorphism to its universal enveloping algebra. 22 1.8.6 Universal enveloping algebra of a direct sum. 22 1.8.7 Bialgebra structure. 23 1.9 The Poincar´e-Birkhoff-Witt Theorem. 24 1.10 Primitives. 28 1.11 Free Lie algebras . 29 1.11.1 Magmas and free magmas on a set . 29 1.11.2 The Free Lie Algebra LX ................... 30 1.11.3 The free associative algebra Ass(X). 31 1.12 Algebraic proof of CBH and explicit formulas. 32 1.12.1 Abstract version of CBH and its algebraic proof. 32 1.12.2 Explicit formula for CBH. 32 2 sl(2) and its Representations. 35 2.1 Low dimensional Lie algebras. 35 2.2 sl(2) and its irreducible representations. 36 2.3 The Casimir element. 39 2.4 sl(2) is simple.
    [Show full text]
  • Unitary Representations of the Poincaré Group
    Eberhard Freitag Unitary representations of the Poincar´egroup Unitary representations, Bargmann classification, Poincar´egroup, Wigner classification Self-Publishing, 2016 Eberhard Freitag Universit¨atHeidelberg Mathematisches Institut Im Neuenheimer Feld 288 69120 Heidelberg [email protected] This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved. c Self-Publishing, Eberhard Freitag Contents Chapter I. Representations 1 1. The groups that we will treat in detail 1 2. The Lie algebras that will occur 4 3. Generalities about Banach- and Hilbert spaces 8 4. Generalities about measure theory 11 5. Generalities about Haar measures 16 6. Generalities about representations 21 7. The convolution algebra 26 8. Generalities about compact groups 31 Chapter II. The real special linear group of degree two 39 1. The simplest compact group 39 2. The Haar measure of the real special linear group of degree two 39 3. Principal series for the real special linear group of degree two 41 4. The intertwining operator 45 5. Complementary series for the rea lspecial linear group of degree two 48 6. The discrete series 48 7. The space Sm;n 51 8. The derived representation 56 9. Explicit formulae for the Lie derivatives 59 10. Analytic vectors 63 11. The Casimir operator 64 12. Admissible representations 68 13. The Bargmann classification 74 14. Automorphic forms 78 15. Some comments on the Casimir operator 80 Chapter III. The complex special linear group of degree two 82 1. Unitary representations of some compact groups. 82 2. The Lie algebra of the complex linear group of degree two 88 Contents 3.
    [Show full text]
  • 22 Representations of SL2
    22 Representations of SL2 Finite dimensional complex representations of the following are much the same: SL2(R), sl2R, sl2C (as a complex Lie algebra), su2R, and SU2. This is because finite dimensional representations of a simply connected Lie group are in bi- jection with representations of the Lie algebra. Complex representations of a REAL Lie algebra L correspond to complex representations of its complexifica- tion L ⊗ C considered as a COMPLEX Lie algebra. Note that complex representations of a COMPLEX Lie algebra L⊗C are not the same as complex representations of the REAL Lie algebra L⊗C =∼ L+L. The representations of the real Lie algebra correspond roughly to (reps of L)⊗(reps of L). Strictly speaking, SL2(R) is not simply connected, which is not important for finite dimensional representations. 2 Set Ω = 2EF + 2F E + H ∈ U(sl2R). The main point is that Ω commutes with sl2R. You can check this by brute force: [H, Ω] = 2 ([H, E]F + E[H, F ]) + ··· | {z } 0 [E, Ω] = 2[E, E]F + 2E[F, E] + 2[E, F ]E + 2F [E, E] + [E, H]H + H[E, H] = 0 [F, Ω] = Similar Thus, Ω is in the center of U(sl2R). In fact, it generates the center. This does not really explain where Ω comes from. Why does Ω exist? The answer is that it comes from a symmetric invariant bilinear form on the Lie algebra sl2R given by (E, F ) = 1, (E, E) = (F, F ) = (F, H) = (E, H) = 0, (H, H) = 2. This bilinear form is an invariant map L ⊗ L → C, where L = sl2R, which by duality gives an invariant element in L ⊗ L, which turns out to be 2E ⊗ F + 2F ⊗ E + H ⊗ H.
    [Show full text]
  • Representation Theory in Quantum Mechanics: a First Step Towards the Wigner Classification
    Representation Theory in Quantum Mechanics: A First Step Towards the Wigner Classification Thomas Bakx Thesis presented for the degrees of Bachelor of Mathematics and Bachelor of Physics Written under the supervision of Prof. Dr. E.P. van den Ban June 2018 Department of Mathematics Abstract In this thesis, we focus on the manifestation of representation theory in quantum me- chanics, mainly from a mathematical perspective. The symmetries of a spacetime manifold M form a Lie group G, of which there must exist a projective representation on the state space of a quantum system located in this spacetime. The possible distinct irreducible projective representations are associated with different types of elementary particles. This approach was first outlined by Wigner [20] in his 1939 paper, in which he also explicitly performed the calculation of all irreducible projective representations for the symmetry group of Minkowski space, the spacetime manifold in Einstein's the- ory of special relativity. To get an idea of its implications, we quote [16]: \It is difficult to overestimate the importance of this paper, which will certainly stand as one of the great intellectual achievements of our century. It has not only provided a framework for the physical search for elementary particles, but has also had a profound influence on the development of modern mathematics, in particular the theory of group representations." Chapter 1 serves as an introduction to the theory of Lie groups and their repre- sentations. In Chapter 2, we prove a theorem regarding unitary representations of non-compact simple Lie groups, of which the Lorentz group is an example of particu- lar interest to us.
    [Show full text]