English

Complementarity and phases in SU(3)

Mathematical Physics 2012-06-22 v1 math.MP Quantum Physics

Abstract

Phase operators and phase states are introduced for irreducible representations of the Lie algebra su(3) using a polar decomposition of ladder operators. In contradistinction with su(2), it is found that the su(3) polar decomposition does not uniquely determine a Hermitian phase operator. We describe two possible ways of proceeding: one based in imposing SU(2) invariance and the other based on the idea of complementarity. The generalization of these results to SU(n) is sketched.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1206.2507,
  title  = {Complementarity and phases in SU(3)},
  author = {H. de Guise and A. Vourdas and L. L. Sanchez-Soto},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1206.2507},
  year   = {2012}
}

Comments

Published as part of a special issue on coherent states

R2 v1 2026-06-21T21:17:58.803Z