Tagged Questions

7
votes
1answer
249 views

Do these two sets of matrices form groups?

Stimulated by some Physics backgrounds, consider the following two sets of matrices. Notations and definitions:Let $A,B$ be two complex $n\times n$ matrices, then $\left [ A,B \right ...
0
votes
0answers
69 views

Choosing a spinor space

I still have a hard time on trying to fully understand spinors (on real spaces). Let $V$ be a $n$-dimensional real quadratic space $V$ with a non degenerated signature $(p, q)$. From what I had ...
2
votes
1answer
59 views

Conjugate Representations of Lie Algebra of Lorentz Group

I'm trying to understand the Lie algebra of the Lorentz group and am almost there, but am stuck at the final hurdle! It's easy to prove that $$\frak ...
1
vote
1answer
73 views

Lie Algebra of the Lorentz Group $SO(1,3)^{\uparrow}$

I'm trying to get my head around the Lie algebra of the Lorentz group once and for all, but have got tied up in knots. Where is my error in the following? The universal covering group of the Lorentz ...
2
votes
0answers
69 views

Mathematical significance of the “Dirac conjugate”

Let $\psi$ be a Dirac spinor. The so-called "Dirac conjugate" of $\psi$ is defined to be $\widetilde{\psi}:=\psi ^*\gamma ^0$, where $^*$ denotes the adjoint and the gamma matrices $\gamma ^\mu$ ...
2
votes
1answer
24 views

Spinor Mapping is Surjective

I'm (still) trying to prove that $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$ is the universal covering group the the proper orthochronous Lorentz group $L$. I have completed the following steps. (1) Prove that the vector ...
5
votes
2answers
93 views

Universal Covering Group of $SO(1,3)^{\uparrow}$

I'm trying to prove that $SL(2,\mathbb{C})$ is the universal covering group for the proper orthochronous Lorentz group $SO(1,3)^{\uparrow}$. The standard way goes as follows. (1) Exhibit a real ...
0
votes
0answers
64 views

Hermitian conjugation and representations of the Lorentzian Clifford algebras

The Clifford algebra $\mathcal{C}\ell _{1,2d-1}$ is central and simple (L), and hence has a unique faithful, irreducible representation (over $\mathbb{R}$) (A). Denote this representation by $\gamma ...
2
votes
1answer
199 views

Finding All Irreducible Representations of $SO(3)$

I've read that one may prove that all irreducible representations of $SO(3)$ are tensor product representations of the fundamental representation (or tensor product representations of the spin 1/2 ...
4
votes
2answers
208 views

$SU(2)$ Representation of $SO(3)$

I've often seen it written that $SU(2)$ is a "two-valued representation" of $SO(3)$ (in theoretical physics books mainly). I have a major conceptual issue with this however. I know there is a Lie ...
1
vote
1answer
135 views

Difference between the SU(2) and SO(3) lie groups and their lie algebras

In many places I have seen the SU(2) and SO(3) lie algebras used interchangeably. How are they exactly identical? Moreover, what about their lie groups? Are they identical as well. It would be great ...
3
votes
1answer
290 views

Some questions about representations of $SO(6)$

I would like to know the proof/explanation for the following three properties of the representation of $SO(6)$, What is the importance of symmetric traceless tensors of arbitrary rank w.r.t $SO(6)$ ...
4
votes
1answer
189 views

Fundamental and the anti-fundamental representation of $U(n)$

I guess that conventionally one thinks of the fundamental representation and the anti-fundamental representation of $U(n)$ as the complex $n-$dimensional representation and its complex conjugate. ...
2
votes
0answers
98 views

Decomposing products of spinor representations into anti-symmetric tensors

There is always a natural $2^{[\frac{d}{2}]}$ dimensional spinorial representation of $SO(d-1,1)$ (..induced from a representation of the related Clifford algebra..) and if $[m]$ denote the space of ...