Schouten's identity in Ian Aitchison's supersymmetry book

In summary, Schouten's identity is a mathematical equation used in supersymmetry to relate the commutator and anticommutator of operators. It is important in proving the symmetry of the theory and is a defining property of the supersymmetry algebra. Schouten's identity is used in various ways, such as in the proof of the algebra's closure and there are also variations of it used in different aspects of supersymmetry.
  • #1
LiXinghe
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In 'Supersymmetry in Particle Physics, An Elementary Introduction', the author Ian Aitchison used for several times the following identity:
λa(ζ · ρ) + ζa(ρ · λ) + ρa(λ · ζ) = 0.

I know that this identity is called Schouten's Identity, which is correct when all the variables are common numbers. But, since the λ ζ and ρ are Grassmannian variables, we no longer have λ· λ=0. So how can we use this identity here, since the spinors here are anti-commuting?
 
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  • #2
Schouten is a general identity saying that in D dimensions antisymmetrization over D+1 indices gives zero because you always encounter twice the same index. So write everything out in spinor components :)
 

1. What is Schouten's identity in Ian Aitchison's supersymmetry book?

Schouten's identity is a mathematical equation that relates the commutator of two operators to their anticommutator. In supersymmetry, this identity is important in proving the symmetry of the theory.

2. Why is Schouten's identity important in supersymmetry?

Schouten's identity is important in supersymmetry because it is used to show that the theory is symmetric under the exchange of fermions and bosons. This symmetry is a key aspect of supersymmetry and plays a crucial role in the mathematical framework of the theory.

3. How does Schouten's identity relate to the supersymmetry algebra?

Schouten's identity is one of the defining properties of the supersymmetry algebra. It relates the commutator and anticommutator of the operators in the algebra, which is essential in proving the algebra's symmetry properties.

4. Can you give an example of how Schouten's identity is used in supersymmetry?

One example of how Schouten's identity is used in supersymmetry is in the proof of the supersymmetry algebra's closure. By applying the identity to the commutator and anticommutator of two operators, it can be shown that the algebra's closure condition is satisfied.

5. Are there any variations of Schouten's identity used in supersymmetry?

Yes, there are variations of Schouten's identity used in supersymmetry, such as the Jacobi identity and the graded Jacobi identity. These variations are important in different aspects of the theory, such as the definition of the supercharges and the construction of supersymmetric Lagrangians.

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