How to Calculate Structure Constants for Reparametrized Rotation Group?

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on calculating structure constants for the reparametrized rotation group using new infinitesimal parameters ε1 = ε23, ε2 = ε31, and ε3 = ε12. The participants clarify that these parameters correspond to rotations around the x, y, and z axes, respectively. The structure constants can be derived using the formula provided, without the need to explicitly determine the arbitrary functions fki(x). The emphasis is on reparametrizing the rotation group and applying the established formula to find the constants.

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  • Understanding of Lie groups and their properties
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turin
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I'm putting this question here because I can't get any help from the HW forum (It's actually not a HW, but it looks a lot like a HW, so I won't be surprised if it gets moved there).



Source: Anderson, Principles of Relativity Physics

p. 13, prob. 1.4

"Reparametrize the rotation group by taking, as new infinitesimal parameters, ε1 = ε23, ε2 = ε31, and ε3 = ε12 and calculate the structure constants for these parameters."

My assumptions:

(1)
The εij mentioned in the problem are the infinitesimal Cartesian parameters of the 3-D rotation group such that εij = -εji, and yi = xi + Σjεijxj, where x is the original point and y is the transformed point.

(2)
To generalize this to non-Cartesian coordinates and still maintain the Lie group-ness, the transformation takes the general form:

yi = xi + Σkεkfki(x)

where the fki(x) satisfy the following condition.

(3)
The request for structure constants is a request for constants ckmn such that:

yi = xi + ΣkΣmΣnBmεAn - εAmεBn)ckmnfki(x)

(4)
The parameters εk are the non-Cartesian parameters, and so, they should multiply some functions fki(x), and these functions determine the structure constants.

My problem with understanding:

I don't know how to find the fki(x). I have:

Σjεijxj = Σkεkfki(x)

but I don't see how this tells me fki(x). Am I supposed to assume some kind of orthogonality or something?
 
Last edited:
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Thank you for providing the context for your question. From my understanding, the problem is asking you to reparametrize the rotation group using the new infinitesimal parameters given, and then calculate the structure constants for these new parameters.

To clarify, the εij mentioned in the problem are not the original Cartesian parameters, but rather the new ones that are given as ε1 = ε23, ε2 = ε31, and ε3 = ε12. These new parameters correspond to rotations around the x, y, and z axes, respectively.

To find the structure constants, you can use the formula you mentioned in (3). However, the functions fki(x) are not determined by the given parameters, but rather they are arbitrary functions that satisfy the condition in (2). This means that there are infinite possibilities for the fki(x) functions, and there is no specific way to find them.

To solve the problem, you can simply use the given parameters to reparametrize the rotation group and then use the formula in (3) to calculate the structure constants. You do not need to find the fki(x) functions explicitly.

I hope this helps clarify the problem. If you are still unsure, I recommend reaching out to your professor or classmates for further assistance. Good luck!
 

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