Generators of Lorentz Lie Algebra being complex?

In summary, the Lorentz group SO(1,3) is a real, simple, and non-compact group. When its algebra is complexified, it becomes isomorphic to SU(2) x SU(2). However, this complexification cannot be extended to a nontrivial finite-dimensional unitary representation, leading to the need for a different basis of generators, which can be made hermitian.
  • #1
kuecken
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I was wondering about the following
Λ=I+iT
T are the generators and Λ a continuous LT transformation, thus it is real. Therefore T needs to be imaginary.
And we can find two sets one being the generators for SO(3) J_i and the other for boosts K_i, which are both imaginary.
Now I am wondering about introducing the new basis of generators to make the Lie algebra look more like the one from angular momentum
J±=1/2(J_i±i*K_i)
How can this be a generator as it is complex and would make Λ complex therefore in the first expression?
What am I overlooking or misunderstanding here?
Thank you for your help.
 
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  • #2
The point is that you first investigate the Lie algebra of the Lorentz group, i.e., the "infinitesimal transformations" close to the group's unit element (mathematically it's the trangent space, inheriting the Lie algebra from the Lie group).

To analyze the possible representations of this Lie algebra, it is convenient to complexify it first and then use the fact that by introducing the pseudo-angular-momentum operators $$S_i^{\pm}=\frac{1}{2}(J_i \pm \mathrm{i} k_i),$$
which fulfill the commutator relations of two independent angular-momentum operators.

Now all finite-dimensional representations of su(2) and thus also ##\mathrm{su}(2) \oplus \mathrm{su}(2)## are equivalent to a unitary representation, and you know them from quantum theory. So you use these and then go back to the original rotation and boost transformations. As it turns out, you cannot find a finite-dimensional unitary representation of the Lorentz Lie algebra and the corresponding Lorentz group (except the trivial one).

Nevertheless there are purely real representations like the "fundamental" one, acting on Minkowski four-vectors. Of course, these are not orthogonal transformations (which is the special case of a unitary transformation on real vector spaces) but ##\mathrm{SO}(1,3)## transformations, which leave the Minkowski product and not the Euclidean product on ##\mathbb{R}^4## invariant. This fundamental representation is given by the (1/2,1/2) representation of the Lorentz group, i.e., the two su(2) algebras are both represented by the s=1/2 representation.

A very good book covering all this in a really very comprehensible way and delivers also some interesting physics on the way is

Sexl, Roman U., Urbandtke, Helmuth K.: Relativity, Groups, Particles, Springer, 2001
 
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  • #3
kuecken said:
I was wondering about the following
Λ=I+iT
T are the generators and Λ a continuous LT transformation, thus it is real. Therefore T needs to be imaginary.
And we can find two sets one being the generators for SO(3) J_i and the other for boosts K_i, which are both imaginary.
Now I am wondering about introducing the new basis of generators to make the Lie algebra look more like the one from angular momentum
J±=1/2(J_i±i*K_i)
How can this be a generator as it is complex and would make Λ complex therefore in the first expression?
What am I overlooking or misunderstanding here?
Thank you for your help.

I have a somewhat mathematical and abstract answer, I hope you find it useful. The Lorentz Group SO(1,3; R) is a real, simple, and non-compact group. Since it is a simple group, it cannot be written as the direct product of two other Lie Groups. However, all of that changes when you complexify the algebra to SO(1, 3; C) algebra. The complex algebra is isomorphic to SU(2; C) X SU(2; C). (This isomorphim is an accidental one. For example if you were to complexify SO(1, 11; R) to SO(1, 11; C), it does not decompose into a direct product.)

If you check the Dynkin diagrams (for complexified algebras) you can tell when an accidental isomorphism will take place. All these so-called accidental isomorphisms take place for small Lie groups. For groups large enough, there are no such cases.
 
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  • #4
If you choose the rotations ##J_i## to be real and the boosts ##K_i## to be imaginary, then

$$ \mathcal{J}^\pm_i = \frac{1}{2} ( J_i \pm i K_i)$$

are real.
 
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  • #5
There's no nontrivial finite-dimensional unitary representation of the Lie algebra sl(2,C), which is the Lie algebra of the covering group of the Lorentz group SL(2,C). The generators ##J_i## for the rotation subgroup SU(2) can be made hermitian, because SU(2) is compact and semisimple, and this is the usual choice for the representations in physics. The ##K_i## are then necessarily not hermitian, but the ##J_i^{\pm}## are, they represent the Lie algebra ##\mathrm{su}(2) \oplus \mathrm{su}(2)## which is thus equivalent to the Lie algebra sl(2,C). Note, however that the exponential mapping from ##\mathrm{su}(2) \oplus \mathrm{su}(2)## to SL(2,C) is not surjective. For details see Appendix B of my QFT notes:

http://fias.uni-frankfurt.de/~hees/publ/lect.pdf
 

1. What is the Lorentz Lie Algebra?

The Lorentz Lie Algebra is a mathematical structure that describes the symmetries of spacetime in special relativity. It consists of a set of generators that represent rotations and boosts in the x, y, and z directions.

2. Why are the generators of Lorentz Lie Algebra complex?

The generators of the Lorentz Lie Algebra are complex because they involve imaginary numbers in their mathematical representation. This is due to the fact that the transformations they represent involve both rotations and boosts, which can be described using complex numbers.

3. How are the generators of Lorentz Lie Algebra related to special relativity?

The generators of the Lorentz Lie Algebra are related to special relativity because they represent the symmetries of spacetime in this theory. They are used to describe the transformations that occur between different reference frames in special relativity, such as the dilation of time and contraction of space.

4. Can the generators of Lorentz Lie Algebra be real?

No, the generators of the Lorentz Lie Algebra cannot be real. This is because they involve a combination of rotations and boosts, which can only be represented using complex numbers. Therefore, the generators must also be complex.

5. What is the significance of the generators of Lorentz Lie Algebra being complex?

The complex nature of the generators of Lorentz Lie Algebra is significant because it allows for a more complete and accurate description of spacetime symmetries in special relativity. It also allows for the application of advanced mathematical techniques, such as complex analysis, in the study of these symmetries.

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