180deg Rotation in Isospin space

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    Isospin Rotation Space
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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the G-parity of the pion, specifically the -1 value resulting from a rotation in isospin space around the y-axis by an angle of π, followed by C-conjugation. The rotation matrix provided, R_y(π) = \begin{pmatrix}0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & -1 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}, transforms the state of π+ (T = 1, Tz = +1) to π-, yielding R_y(π) \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 0\\ 0 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix}. However, this result does not produce the required -π- state. The author identifies an error in the rotation convention, suggesting that the rotation should occur around the x-axis to correctly account for C-parity.

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  • Knowledge of isospin and its representation in quantum mechanics.
  • Basic concepts of C-conjugation and its role in particle transformations.
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malawi_glenn
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The G-partiy of the pion is -1, which is rotation in isospin space around y-axis by angle [itex]\pi[/itex] followed by C-conjugation.

The rotation matrix around y-axis , with angle [itex]\pi[/itex], is: (e.g. Sakurai, Halzen ..)

[tex]\begin{pmatrix}0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & -1 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}[/tex]

Thus on [itex]\pi^+[/itex]: T = 1, Tz = +1:
[tex]\begin{pmatrix}0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & -1 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 0\\ 0 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} = \pi^-[/tex]

But this is not [itex]-\pi^-[/itex], which is required (see e.g. http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/hep-ph/pdf/9903/9903256v1.pdf page 14)

I feel really stupid now, I don't get the required minus sign for pi- and pi+, only for pi0...

The rotation matrix I use is:
[tex]\begin{pmatrix} \tfrac{1}{2}(1+\cos \beta ) & - \tfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\sin \beta & \tfrac{1}{2}(1 - \cos \beta ) \\ -\tfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\sin \beta& \cos \beta & - \tfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\sin \beta \\ \tfrac{1}{2}(1-\cos \beta ) & \tfrac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\sin \beta & \tfrac{1}{2}(1 + \cos \beta ) \end{pmatrix}[/tex]
 
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I found that the author has made an error, one should rotate around x-axis with that convention of C-parity.
 

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