# Tensor operators in QM

Hello! I´m trying to read Georgi's book on Lie algebras in particle physics but am confused about the start of chapter 4.

Georgi writes that "A tensor operator is a set of operators that transforms under commutation with the generators of some Lie algebra like an irreducible representation of the algebra. [...] A tensor operator transforming under the spin-s representation of SU(2) consists of a set of operators, O^s_l, for l=1 to l = 2s+1(or -s to s), such that:

$$[J_a, O^s_l] = O^s_m[J^s_a]_{ml}"$$

I thought I understood 90-95% sofar in the book but I really dont see what he tries to define here.. Could somebody maybe help me and introduce the concept in Georgis way but with some more words and an example i will recognize from QM? I dont recognize what he is trying to construct from my QM courses.

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Bill_K
In QM an example of a vector operator is the position operator x, a set of three operators x, y, z. Together they form a vector because under rotations they transform into each other. This fact can be expressed by writing out their commutators with the operators Ji that generate infinitesimal rotations:

[Ji, xj] = i εijk xk

Another example of a tensor operator is the electric quadrupole moment, which is a set of five operators Qm, m = -2, ... +2. Given a charge distribution ρ(x,y,z), you define its electric quadrupole moment by

Qm = ∫ρ r2 Y2m dV

where Y2m is a spherical harmonic. Under rotations the five operators Qm go into each other, and one can express this by writing out all the commutators of Ji with Qm.

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Of course! Didnt think of the three dimensional position operator as a set of operators. :)
The equation of transformation however doesnt seem to intuitive.. how should I think about the indices in the equation I qouted above?

For x_j, j is obviously the dimension of our space so for O^s_l, l specifies a operator in our set? What about s, is it just refering to which representation? :/

king vitamin