- #1
HomogenousCow
- 737
- 213
I am somewhat confused with the connection between the two groups.
In the text I'm reading (An Introduction to Tensors and Group theory for physicists N. Jeevanjee), there is a chapter quite early on (in the group theory part) which outlines a homomorphism from SU(2) to SO(3), however I find this homomorphism very odd.
Why is it that we start with SU(2) on traceless anti-Hermitian matrices? There seems to be some connection here with the Lie Algebra of SU(2) however I can't put my finger on it.
In the text I'm reading (An Introduction to Tensors and Group theory for physicists N. Jeevanjee), there is a chapter quite early on (in the group theory part) which outlines a homomorphism from SU(2) to SO(3), however I find this homomorphism very odd.
Why is it that we start with SU(2) on traceless anti-Hermitian matrices? There seems to be some connection here with the Lie Algebra of SU(2) however I can't put my finger on it.