Prolog

Text Books:
W.K.Tung, "Group Theory in Physics", World Scientific (85)
J.F.Cornwell, "Group Theory in Physics", Vol.I, AP (85)

Website:
Homework submission:

http://ckw.phys.ncku.edu.tw
class@ckw.phys.ncku.edu.tw

Grades:
Exercises:
MidTerm:
Final:

50%
20%
30%

Why Group Theory?

Physical problems ~ differential equations.

Solutions to DE ~ linear vector / Hilbert space V.

Symmetries in physical system structures in V.

Group theory.

Applications
Finite / discrete / countable groups:
Molecules, crystals, defects, ions, surface absorbances,
Spectral analysis: Electronic, vibrational, rotational,
Obtain degeneracies & classifications of eigenstates effortlessly.
Ditto selection rules & branching ratios.
Obtain block diagonalized hamiltonians & symmetrized bases.
Lie (continuous) groups:
Rotation, Lorentz, Poincare groups:
Angular momentum, spin, ...
Classification of elementary particles:
Isotopic multiplets for hadrons / quarks.
Construction of gauge fields & unified theories.
Electroweak: SU(2)U(1)
Strong:
SU(3)
Unified:
SU(5)

Properties of special functions.

Group Theory in Physics

W.K.Tung, World Scientific
(85)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Introduction
Basic Group Theory
Group Representations
General Properties of Irreducible Vectors & Operators
Representations of the Symmetric Groups
1- D Continuous Groups
Rotations in 3-D Space: The Group SO(3)
The Group SU(2) & SO(3)

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Euclidean Groups in 2- & 3-D Spaces

The Lorentz & Poincare Groups, & Space: Time Symmetries
Space Inversion Invariance
Time Reversal Invariance
FiniteDimensional Representations of the Classical Groups

Appendices
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.

Notations & Symbols

Summary of Linear Vector Spaces
Group Algebra & the Reduction of Regular Representations
Supplement to the Theory of the Symmetric Groups
Clebsch-Gordan Coefficients & Spherical Harmonics
Rotational & Lorentz Spinors

VII. Unitary Representations of Proper Lorentz Group

VIII. Anti-Linear Operators

Supplementary Readings
Similar to Tung but more physically oriented:
M.Hamermesh, "Group Theory & its Application to Physical
Problems", Addison-Wesley (62)

Molecular theories:
F.A.Cotton, "Chemical Applications of Group Theory", 2nd ed.,
John Wiley (71)

Teasers on atomic, molecular & solid-state applications:

M.Tinkham, "Group Theory & Quantum Mechanics", McGraw Hill
(64)

Solid state theories:

T.Inui, et al, "Group Theory & its Applications in Physics",
Springer-Verlag (90)

1. Introduction
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Particle on a 1-D Lattice

Representations of the Discrete Translation Operators
Physical Consequences of Translational Symmetry
The Representation Functions and Fourier Analysis
Symmetry Groups of Physics

Aim:
To demonstrate relations between
physical symmetries,
group theory,
& special functions ( group representation )

1.1. Particle on a 1-D Lattice

p2
H
V x
2m

V x nb V x

b = Lattice constant
Translational symmetry (discrete): H invariant under

x x T n x x nb

Physical operators are linear Symmetry operators are linear

Effect on states:

T n

T n

{ | } & { | } physically equivalent

T n T n

A T n A T n

A T n A T n

Symm ops are unitary

1

T n T n

x T n x x nb

x T n x x nb

x V x x
x V x a x
V x
V x a
x x
x x
x x
V x x
x
x
V
By def: V x

V x V x nb
x x
x x
x x
x nb x
x
V
x
V

V x nb
x x
x x

V x T n V x T n V x nb V T 1 n x
Transl symm V x nb V x V x V x T n V x V x T n

V x V x$

Similarly:

h
p x p x nb h

i x nb
i x

p x

p x 2
x
x T n H
x T n
H
V x H
2m
0
T n , H
T n T n H

Eigenstates of T(n) is also eigenstates of H

1.2. Representations of the Discrete Translation Operators

{ T(n) } or any set of symm ops satisfies (
dropped ) :
T n T m T k T n T m T k

Associativity

T n T m T n m

Closure

T 0 E

Existence of Identity

T n

Existence of Inverse

T n

Td = { T(n) } forms a group

More accurately: { T(n) } is the realization of Td = { T(n) } on the

single particle Hilbert space .
Furthermore:

T n T m T m T n

Td is Abelian ( commutative)

T n T n E

Td is unitary

 T n , T m 0

simultanous eigenvectors |

T n tn

tn( ) = eigenvalue of T(n) associated with |

T n T m T k T n T m T k

tn t m tn m

T 0 E

t0 1

tn 1 t n

t n t m t m tn

tn * t n 1

T n

T n T m T m T n
T n T n E

Ansatz

i n

tn tm tk tn tm tk

T n T m T n m

T n

tn e

T(n)

n n

n m n m
tn e i n

0 0

For each given , { tn( ) } forms a representation of Td

n n

1.3. Physical Consequences of Translational Symmetry

Let the simultaneous eigenstates of H & T(n) be | E k

T n E k E k ei k n b
x-representation:

(k=/b)

H E k E k E k

uE k x x E k

Any x is related to a y in the unit cell by

x=nb+y

b/2 y < b/2

| x = T(n) | y

x | = y | T (n)

i k nb
uE k y e i k x y
uE k x y T n Ek y T n Ek y Ek e

uE k x e i k x uE k y e i k y
The Bloch function

b/2 y < b/2

vE k x uE k x e i k x is periodic in x with period b

Reduced Schrodinger eq:

h2 d 2
2m d y 2 V

y v E k

h2 k 2
y E
vE k y

2m

Brillouin zone

T n e i n

T(-1)

T(0)

T(1)

exp(i )

exp(-i )

T nb k k e

i nbk

k e

i n b 2 m / Nb

2 m
N

m\T

T(-1)

T(0)

T(1)

exp(i 2 /N)

exp(i 2 /N)

exp(i 2 /N)

exp(i 2 /N)

1.4. The Representation Functions and Fourier Analysis

Harmonic analysis: Functions as series of basic waves (harmonics)
E.g., Fourier series/transform, orthogonal polynomial expansion,

i n

fn

fn

d i n * i n
e e
nn d n* n

Orthonormality

*
i n
i n

e
e

n
n

Completeness

fn

d i n *
e f

d n* f

For compact groups, the basis of each group

representation can be chosen to form a complete
orthonormal set.

Inverse

1.5. Symmetry Groups of Physics

Let G be the symmetry group of H
[ U(g),H ] = 0 g G Eigenstates of H are basis vectors of rep of G
Reps of G are independent of H
Some applications in which group theory is indispensable:
Spectroscopy
Electronic band theory
Strong interaction / TOE

Symmetry considerations can always simplify and / or clarify a problem.

E.g., expansion in terms of symmetrized functions

Some Symmetries in Physics

Continuous Space-Time Symmetries

Translations in space
Translations in time
Rotations in space
Lorentz transformations

Discrete Space-Time Symmetries

Space Inversion (Parity)

Time Reversal
Translations & rotations in a lattice (space groups)
Permutations of identical particles
Gauge invariance & charge conservation
Internal symetries of elementary particles