Understanding Group Theory and Vector Rotation in 3D

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 2K views
Phymath
Messages
183
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement

I'm trying to see the relation of the rotation of a vector in a plane to the generator of rotations...

I want to see how [tex]e^{-i \theta J}[/tex] the rotation representation gives you the same result as acting on any vector with the rotation matrix say with the z direction fixed.

[tex] \[ \left( \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> Cos(\theta) & -Sin(\theta) & 0 \\<br /> Sin(\theta) & Cos(\theta) & 0 \\<br /> 0 & 0 & 1 \end{array} \right)\] = R_z[/tex]

is [tex]R_z \textbf{v} = e^{-i \theta J_z^{(1)}} \textbf{v}[/tex]

because a 3 dimensional vector has a spin one representation (right? because one full rotation gives the same vector back)

with [tex]J_z^{(1)} = \[ \left( \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> 1 & 0 & 0 \\<br /> 0 & 0 & 0 \\<br /> 0 & 0 & -1 \end{array} \right)\][/tex]

I get [tex]e^{-i \theta J_z^{(1)}} = \sum\frac{(-i \theta)^n}{n!}(J_z)^n = Cos(\theta)(J_z)^2-i J_z^{(1)} Sin(\theta)[/tex]

[tex] e^{-i \theta J_z^{(1)}}= \[ \left( \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> Cos(\theta)-i Sin(\theta) & 0 & 0 \\<br /> 0 & 0 & 0 \\<br /> 0 & 0 & Cos(\theta)+i Sin(\theta) \end{array} \right)\][/tex]

when this matrix is applied to the vector [tex]\textbf{v}[/tex] it doesn't produce the same effect someone help finish the missing pieces thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
ok I used the SO(3) matrix instead of SO(2) and that does give back the same matrix however if i still do it in 3-d i don't get the same matrix back

[tex] R(d\theta) = I - i d\theta J \rightarrow J = <br /> \[ \left( \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> 0 & -i & 0 \\<br /> i & 0 & 0 \\<br /> 0 & 0 & 0 \end{array} \right)\] [/tex]

if you expand [tex]e^{-i \theta J} = \[ \left( \begin{array}{ccc}<br /> Cos(\theta) & -Sin(\theta) & 0 \\<br /> Sin(\theta) & Cos(\theta) & 0 \\<br /> 0 & 0 & 0 \end{array} \right)\] [/tex]
with out the 1 in the bottom right (3,3)entry whys this?