Michaelmas Term 2008, Mathematical Tripos Part III Hugh Osborn

Symmetry and Particle Physics, 3

1. Define σµ = (1, σ) and σ̄µ = (1, −σ), with both four independent 2 × 2 matrices. Show

σµ σ̄ν + σν σ̄µ = 2gµν 1 , (σ̄µ )α̇α = αβ α̇β̇ σβ β̇ .

Without assuming any explicit expression for the Pauli matrices σ show that we must then have
1 µ ν µ µ ν
2 tr(σµ x σ̄ν x ) = det(σµ x ) = gµν x x .
For a matrix A = [Aαα̇ ] explain why A = σµ 12 tr(σ̄ µ A). For B = [Bα β ] verify that

B = 1 12 tr B − σ[µ σ̄ν] 18 tr σ [µ σ̄ ν] B .

2. A Lie group has group elements g(a) depending on group parameters ar , with g(0) = e, the
identity, and under group multiplication g(a)g(b) = g(ϕ(a, b)) for some ϕr (a, b). Let g(a)−1 = g(ā)
where ϕ(ā, a) = 0. Why must ϕr (a, 0) = ar , ϕr (0, b) = br ? Assume ϕr (a, b) is expanded near the
origin according to
ϕa (a, b) = aa + ba + cabc ab bc + O(a2 b, ab2 ) .
Use this to find ā(a) for a small. Let g(d) = g(a)−1 g(b)−1 g(a)g(b) and show that for a, b small
da = f abc ab bc where f abc = cabc − cacb . Using an expansion to one higher order show that the
associativity condition ϕ(ϕ(a, b), c) = ϕ(a, ϕ(b, c)) leads to the Jacobi identity.
Assume the Lie group has generators Ta satisfying [Ta , Tb ] = f abc Tc . For an element of the
Lie algebra aa Ta there is an associated group element given by g(a) = exp(aa Ta ). Use the
Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff formula for exp C = exp A exp B in the form C = A + B + 12 [A, B] +
1
12 ([A, [A, B]] + [B, [B, A]]) + . . . to obtain ϕ(a, b) for a, b small and verify that this is compatible
with the general expansion of ϕ.
3. Using the same notation as the previous question, where cr = ϕr (a, b), obtain

∂cr

a r r ∂ r
, µa r (c)λr b (c) = δa b .

= λ s (b) µa (c) , µa (c) = ϕ (c, b)
∂bs ∂ba 
b=0

Show that the equation for the structure constants f abc may also be expressed as

∂ ∂
r
λs a (b) − s λr a (b) = −f abc λr b (b)λs c (b) .
∂b ∂b
For those familiar with differential forms.
Defining the differential form ω a (b) = dbr λr a (b) verify that the above equation is equivalent, if d
is the exterior derivative, to dω a (b) = − 21 f abc ω b (b) ∧ ω c (b). Show that the Jacobi identity for f abc
is entailed by d2 ω a (b) = 0. If g are matrices forming a representation, g(c) = g(a)g(b), show that
g(b)−1 dg(b) = ω a (b)ta where {ta } are matrix generators satisfying [ta , tb ] = f cab tc .
4. An SU (2) matrix may be represented by
 
α β
A= , |α|2 + |β|2 = 1 .
−β̄ ᾱ

Let α = |α| eiλ where |α|2 = 1 − |β|2 so that A is regarded as depending on the real parameter λ
and the complex parameter β. Determine dλ, dβ, dβ̄ in terms of infinitesimal φ, θ, θ̄ where
    
α + dα β + dβ α β 1 + iφ θ
= .
−β̄ − dβ̄ ᾱ + dᾱ −β̄ ᾱ −θ̄ 1 − iφ

Hence show that the invariantR measure for SU (2) with these parameters is dλ d2 β. What are the
ranges of λ and β? Calculate dλ d2 β. (For dβ = dβ1 + idβ2 , d2 β = dβ1 dβ2 .)
5. Consider two SU (2) algebras, I± , I3 and U± , U3 , where [I3 , I± ] = ±I± , [I+ , I− ] = 2I3 with
I3† = I3 , I+† = I− , and also similarly for I → U . Assume

[I− , U+ ] = 0 , [I3 , U+ ] = − 12 U+ , [U− , I+ ] = 0 [U3 , I+ ] = − 12 I+ .

Define V+ = [I+ , U+ ] and V− = V+† . Explain why [I+ , V+ ] = [U+ , V+ ] = 0. Evaluate [V+ , V− ] and
show that V± , V3 = I3 + U3 form a SU (2) algebra. Let U3 = − 12 I3 + 32 Y . Work out the various
commutators involving Y .
Explain how the I-spin and U-spin operators with the above relations generate a SU (3) algebra.
6. For a simple Lie algebra L, with elements Xi such that [Xi , Xj ] = ifijk Xk where fijk is totally
antisymmetric, let Ti be matrices forming a representation R of L and assume Ti Ti = CR 1. Define
dim L
hXi , Xj i = tr(Ti Tj ) .
CR dim R
(a) Evaluate hJ3 , J3 i in the j-th irreducible representation of SU (2) and show that the result
is independent of j.
(b) For SU (3) show that the representation given by Ti = 12 λi gives the same value for hXi , Xj i
as does the adjoint representation (Tiad )jk = −ifijk .
7. Let {T i j } be n × n matrices such that T i j has a 1 in the i’th row and j’th column and is zero
otherwise. Show that they satisfy the Lie algebra

[T i j , T k l ] = δ k j T i l − δ i l T k j .

Define X = T i j X j i with arbitrary components X j i . Determine the adjoint matrix (X ad )n m ,k l by

[X, T k l ] = T m n (X ad )n m ,k l ,

and show that

κ(X, Y ) = tr X ad Y ad = 2 n i,j X j i Y i j − i X i i j Y j j .

P P P

Show that 1 + X ∈ U (n) for infinitesimal  if (X j i )∗ = −X i j . Hence show that in this case
j 2
X̂ j i = X j i − 1
δj i k
P P
κ(X, X) = −2n i,j |X̂ i | , n kX k ,

and therefore κ(X, X) = 0 ⇔ X ad = 0. What restrictions must be made for SU (N ) and verify
that in this case the generators satisfy κ(X, X) < 0 so the group is semi-simple.
8. For a group with a Lie algebra with a basis {Ta } such that [Ta , Tb ] = f cab Tc let gab = hTa , Tb i
where h , i is an invariant symmetric bilinear form so that h[X, Y ], Zi = −hY, [X, Z]i. Show that
fabc = gad f dbc is totally antisymmetric. If Dµ is an appropriate covariant derivative involving a
gauge field Aaµ verify

∂µ hX(x), Y (x)i = hDµ X(x), Y (x)i + hX(x), Dµ Y (x)i .

Let T µν = hF µσ , Fνσ i − 41 δ µν hF σρ , Fσρ i. Show, using the Bianchi identity, ∂µ T µν = hDµ F µσ , Fνσ i.
For a variation δAaµ obtain also δ 41 µνσρ hFµν , Fσρ i = ∂µ µνσρ hδAν , Fσρ i. By letting Aµ → tAµ and
differentiating with respect to t and then integrating show that
1 µνσρ
hFµν , Fσρ i = ∂µ µνσρ Aν , ∂σ Aρ + 13 [Aσ , Aρ ] .


4

9. With notation as in the previous question define a three dimensional Lagrangian

L = µνρ gab Aaµ ∂ν Abρ + 13 fabc Aaµ Abν Acρ .

For aR a gauge transformation δAaµ = −∂µ λa − f abc Abµ λc show that δL = −∂µ µνρ gab λa ∂ν Abρ so
that d3 x L is invariant.