SU(2) Rotation & Spinors: Connected?

In summary, the conversation discusses the relationship between rotations in SU(2) and the behavior of spinors. The participants agree that a spinor is an object on which an element of SU(2) acts, similar to how a physical 3-d vector is affected by a normal rotation. Therefore, it can be concluded that rotation in SU(2) automatically implies the rotation of a spinor.
  • #1
HowardTheDuck
33
0
Hi, a fairly quick question. I'm reading Bruce Schumm's book "Deep Down Things" and he says that in SU(2) you have to rotate by 720 degrees to return to your starting point. This is clearly the same definition as a spinor. My question is, then, does rotation in SU(2) automatically imply the rotation of a spinor? Or is a spinor a special case of a rotation in SU(2)? Any help much appreciated.
 
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  • #2
A spinor is an object on which an element of SU(2) acts, just a physical 3-d vector is an object on which a normal rotation (element of SO(3)) acts.
 
  • #3
Thanks. So that appears to suggest that, yes, if you are rotating in SU(2) then your objects behave as spinors. Yes, that's surely correct.
 
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Related to SU(2) Rotation & Spinors: Connected?

1. What is SU(2) rotation and how is it connected to spinors?

SU(2) rotation refers to a special unitary group in mathematics that describes the rotation of an object in three-dimensional space. Spinors, on the other hand, are mathematical objects used to represent spin, a fundamental property of particles in quantum mechanics. The connection between SU(2) rotation and spinors lies in the fact that SU(2) matrices can be used to rotate spinors, making it a useful tool in studying the behavior of particles with spin.

2. What are the applications of SU(2) rotation and spinors in physics?

SU(2) rotation and spinors have various applications in physics, particularly in quantum mechanics and particle physics. They are used to describe the behavior and interactions of elementary particles such as electrons, protons, and neutrons. They also play a crucial role in the study of quantum entanglement, a phenomenon that has important implications in quantum computing and communication.

3. How is SU(2) rotation related to other special unitary groups?

SU(2) rotation is a subgroup of the special unitary group SU(N), where N represents the dimension of the rotation. In other words, SU(2) is a special case of SU(N), where N=2. This means that SU(2) shares some properties and characteristics with other special unitary groups, but also has its unique properties and applications.

4. Can SU(2) rotation and spinors be visualized in three-dimensional space?

While SU(2) rotation and spinors are inherently mathematical concepts, they can be visualized in three-dimensional space. For example, a spinor can be represented by a vector in three-dimensional space, and SU(2) matrices can be used to rotate this vector. However, it's important to note that the visual representation of spinors may not accurately reflect their behavior and properties in quantum mechanics.

5. How does SU(2) rotation and spinors relate to the concept of symmetry?

SU(2) rotation and spinors are closely related to the concept of symmetry, particularly in the context of group theory. In physics, symmetries are used to describe the behavior and properties of physical systems. SU(2) rotation can be thought of as a symmetry group, as it describes the rotations of an object in three-dimensional space. Spinors also have symmetry properties and can be transformed under SU(2) rotations, making them a useful tool in studying symmetries in physics.

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