# SU(2) as representation of SO(3)

1. Aug 21, 2010

### maxverywell

The SU(2) and SO(3) groups are homomorphic groups. Can we say that the SU(2) group is representation of SO(3) and vice versa (SU(2) representation of SO(3))?

Is a representation R of some group G a group too? If so, is it true that G is representation of R?

2. Aug 21, 2010

### haushofer

In the case of matrix Lie groups, the fundamental representation is the group itself, so then you could say, in an abuse of language, that "the representation is a group". But in general the group is an abstract set with four rules, and can be represented in many ways.

But be careful: not every representation of SU(2) is a representation of SO(3)! SU(2) is the double cover of SO(3), and SU(2) is isomorphic to the coset SO(3)/Z2.

3. Aug 21, 2010

### maxverywell

Oh I see... I think I get the point now, thnx!

Btw, what is a fundamental representation and a double cover?

4. Aug 27, 2010

Elements of $$SU(2)$$ are 2x2 complex matrices. If to each matrix $$A\in SU(2)$$ you assing the transformation $$x\mapsto Ax$$ of $$\mathbf{C}^2$$ - then you have the fundamental represantation of $$SU(2)$$

There is a very nice a natural group homomorphism, call it $$\rho$$,

$$\rho: SU(2)\rightarrow SO(3)$$.

It has the property

$$\rho(A)=\rho(-A)$$.

Matrices $$A$$ and $$-A$$ are mapped to the same element of $$SO(3)$$. Thus the name "double cover".

5. Aug 29, 2010

### Fredrik

Staff Emeritus
R isn't a group. It's a group homomorphism from G into GL(V) (the group of invertible linear operators on a vector space V).

6. Sep 1, 2010

### maxverywell

R is a set of matrices which with matrix multiplication forms a group.

7. Sep 1, 2010

Set is not a representation. Representation is a map from one set to another, with particular properties.

8. Sep 1, 2010

### maxverywell

I said set with multiplication. So a group representation is a group whose elements are matrices.

Last edited: Sep 1, 2010
9. Sep 1, 2010

No. Please, check the definition from a good book. Well, I will do it for you:

From H. Jones, "Groups, Representations and Physics", p. 37:

Definition

A representation of dimension n of the abstract group G is defined as a
homomorphism D: G -> GL(n, C), the group of non-singular nxn
matrices with complex entries.

More generally, you can replace GL(n,C) by L(V,K). But the important thing is that it is homomorphism, that is a map with appropriate properties, not a "set with appropriate properties".

10. Sep 1, 2010

### maxverywell

I know that it's a homomorphism etc. but it's a group as I said. Take for example the group of order 2: G={e,a} and its regular representation D={D(e),D(a)}
were

$$D(e)=\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 \end{bmatrix}$$ and $$D(a)=\begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{bmatrix}$$

Now, this two matrices form a group (wich is actually the same as G, they are isomorphic because it's regular representation).

Last edited: Sep 1, 2010
11. Sep 1, 2010

Well, you may like to learn how to distinguish between objects and arrows that connect objects. You never know, one day this ability may come handy....

You may find some info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_theory" [Broken]

Last edited by a moderator: May 4, 2017
12. Sep 1, 2010

### maxverywell

You are right, sorry. Indeed, a representation is an arrow from one group to another (group of matrices).

13. Sep 1, 2010

$$SU(2)\rightarrow GL(2,C)$$
$$SU(2)\rightarrow SO(3)\subset GL(3,R)$$
$$SO(3)\rightarrow SU(2)$$