Ryder, QFT 2nd Ed. Page 47, eqn (1.122)

1. Aug 12, 2007

Jimmy Snyder

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
$$(1 - \frac{i}{2}\mathbf{\sigma\cdot\theta})\mathbf{\sigma}(1 + \frac{i}{2}\mathbf{\sigma\cdot\theta}) = \mathbf{\sigma - \theta\times\sigma}$$

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
At one point in this, I temporarily ignore the y and z components. I hope the notation is not too confusing.
$$(1 - \frac{i}{2}\mathbf{\sigma\cdot\theta})\mathbf{\sigma}(1 + \frac{i}{2}\mathbf{\sigma\cdot\theta}) = \mathbf{\sigma} + \frac{i}{2}(\mathbf{\sigma}(\mathbf{\sigma\cdot\theta}) - (\mathbf{\sigma\cdot\theta})\mathbf{\sigma})$$
$$= \mathbf{\sigma} + \frac{i}{2}(\sigma_x(\sigma_x\theta_x + \sigma_y\theta_y + \sigma_z\theta_z) - (\sigma_x\theta_x + \sigma_y\theta_y + \sigma_z\theta_z)\sigma_x) + ()$$
$$= \mathbf{\sigma} + \frac{i}{2}(\theta_x + 2i\sigma_z\theta_y - 2i\sigma_y\theta_z) - (\theta_x - 2i\sigma_z\theta_y + 2i\sigma_y\theta_z)) + ()$$
$$= \mathbf{\sigma} - 2(\sigma_z\theta_y - \sigma_y\theta_z) + ()$$
and finally, putting the y and z compenents back in:
$$(1 - \frac{i}{2}\mathbf{\sigma\cdot\theta})\sigma(1 + \frac{i}{2}\mathbf{\sigma\cdot\theta}) = \mathbf{\sigma - 2\theta\times\sigma}$$

Last edited: Aug 12, 2007
2. Aug 12, 2007

dextercioby

$$\left[ \vec{\sigma}-\frac{i}{2}\left( \vec{\sigma}\cdot \vec{\theta}\right) \vec{\sigma}\right] \left[ 1+\frac{i}{2}\left( \vec{\sigma}\cdot \vec{\theta}\right) \right] =\vec{\sigma}+\frac{i}{2}\vec{\sigma}\left( \vec{\sigma}\cdot \vec{\theta}\right) -\frac{i}{2}\left( \vec{\sigma}\cdot \vec{\theta}\right) \vec{\sigma}+\mathcal{O}\left( \theta ^{2}\right)$$

$$=\left[ \sigma _{i}+\frac{i}{2}\left( \sigma _{i}\sigma _{j}-\sigma _{j}\sigma _{i}\right) \theta _{j}\right] \vec{e}_{i}+\mathcal{O}\left( \theta ^{2}\right)=\left( \sigma _{i}+\frac{i}{2}2i\varepsilon _{ijk}\sigma _{k}\theta _{j}\right) \vec{e}_{i}=\vec{\sigma}-\vec{\theta}\times \vec{\sigma}+\mathcal{O}\left( \theta ^{2}\right)$$

So Ryder was right this time.

3. Aug 13, 2007

Jimmy Snyder

Thanks dextercioby. I do try hard to solve these matters before I post. It has taken me a month just to get to page 92. I cannot explain what mental blindness caused me to have trouble with this one though.

4. Aug 13, 2007

dextercioby

I don't think it's mental blindness; it's just lack of exercise and at some points also the inspiration's missing. Just keep up the good work !!