Variations on a theme of Heisenberg, Pauli and Weyl
Abstract
Description
The parentage between Weyl pairs, generalized Pauli group and unitary group is investigated in detail. We start from an abstract definition of the Heisenberg-Weyl group on the field R and then switch to the discrete Heisenberg-Weyl group or generalized Pauli group on a finite ring Z_d. The main characteristics of the latter group, an abstract group of order d**3 noted P_d, are given (conjugacy classes and irreducible representation classes or equivalently Lie algebra of dimension d**3 associated with P_d). Leaving the abstract sector, a set of Weyl pairs in dimension d is derived from a polar decomposition of SU(2) closely connected to angular momentum theory. Then, a realization of the generalized Pauli group P_d and the construction of generalized Pauli matrices in dimension d are revisited in terms of Weyl pairs. Finally, the Lie algebra of the unitary group U(d) is obtained as a subalgebra of the Lie algebra associated with P_d. This leads to a development of the Lie algebra of U(d) in a basis consisting of d**2 generalized Pauli matrices. In the case where d is a power of a prime integer, the Lie algebra of SU(d) can be decomposed into d-1 Cartan subalgebras.
Dedicated to the memory of Moshé Flato on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his death
Dedicated to the memory of Moshé Flato on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his death