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Polynomial functions of the the generators
in The Algebra of Operators Alg( Hilb(n) )




The following are a few well known facts: A vector |psi> in a Hilbert space Hilb is called a cyclic vector for an operator A iff finite linear combinations of A^k|psi> are dense in Hilb. If Hilb = Hilb(n) is finite dimensional, for k <= n, the A^k|psi> span Hilb and are orthogonal. Again in a finite dimensional Hilb, an operator possesses a cyclic vector iff all its eigenvalues are distinct, i.e., its spectrum is multiplicity free. An operator is diagonalizable if it is normal, i. e.,


        [A, A!]  =  0

   Generally, the following three conditions are equivalent

        i)   A is multiplicity free
        ii)  A has a cyclic vector
        iii)  {X: [A, X] = 0} is an Abelian algebra

   For two arbitrary operators A and B

                     (k-1)
        [A^k, B]  =  SIGMA  A^m [A, B] A^(k-1-m)
                      m=0

   and then,

                       (k-1)    (j-1)
        [A^k, B^j]  =  SIGMA    SIGMA  A^m B^(j-1-n) [A, B] B^n A^(k-1-m)
                        m=0      n=0

   or equivalently,

                       (k-1)    (j-1)
        [A^k, B^j]  =  SIGMA    SIGMA  A^m B^n [A, B] B^(j-1-n) A^(k-1-m)
                        m=0      n=0



    <Definition 5.1>:

Let Hilb(n) be a complex Hilbert space topologically isomorphic to C^n, n-dimensional complex space and let Alg(Hilb(n)) be the algebra of complex linear endomorphisms of Hilb(n). Alg(Hilb(n)) is a finite dimensional C*-algebra with involution

        A -> A!, for all A in Alg(Hilb(n)).

Take A such that A not= A!, i.e., A is non-Hermitean. Call A a generator for Alg(Hilb(n)), if any element of Alg(Hilb(n)) can be expressed as a polynomial in A and A! with complex coefficients xi_(kj):

   for any X in Alg( Hilb(n) ),

        X  =  xi_kj A!^k A^j

with summation over k and j.

    <Theorem 5.1>:

   The annihilation operator B(n) is a generator for Alg( Hilb(n) ).

   Proof:

The canonical algebra basis E_(kj) = |n, k><n, j| spans Alg( Hilb(n) ). Then, from equation (2.11),

        E_kj  =  (B!^k(n)/sqrt(k!) |n, 0><n, 0| (B^j(n)/sqrt(j!)
   with
        0 <= k, j <= n-1

   showing that any operator is expressible by a polynomial in B!(n) and B(n).

   QED







Consider groups of linear transformations on the two dimensional space of Alg( Hilb(n) ) that is spanned by the generating operators B(n) and B!(n). Let A be in SL(2, C) and let tau_mu be the raw unnormalized spin matrices for mu = 1,2,3, and for mu = 0, let tau_0 = I(2), the two dimensional unit matrix. For a real four-vector x^mu define the associated Cartan matrix with summation convention,


        X  =  x^mu tau_mu

   so that

        Det( X )  =  x^0^2 - x^1^2 - x^2^2 - x^3^2

   and

        x^mu  =  (1/2) Tr( X tau_mu )

   then let

        A! X A  =  Y

   where

        Y  =  y^mu tau_mu

   Since SL(2, C) preserves determinants in this action,

        Det( Y )  =  Det( X )

   and so the Minkowskian pseudonorm of the associated four-vector
   is preserved.

        A! X A  =  L_mu^nu(A^(-1)) x^mu tau_nu

where L_mu^nu(A^(-1)) is a matrix of the proper orthochronous Lorentz group SO(1, 3) acting on the four-dimensional carrier space of its defining representation.

The tau_mu constitute a basis for the space of 2x2 Hermitean matrices that is isomorphic as an indefinite inner product space to Minkowski space. Thus,


        tau_0        is a unit timelike vector
        tau_k        for k = 1, 2, 3 are unit spacelike vectors
   and
        tau_0 - tau_k   are lightlike vectors.

   The tau_mu unit vectors transform as

        A! tau_mu A  =  L_mu^nu(A) tau_nu
The subgroups of SL(2, C), that preserve the representative vectors tau_0, tau_3 and (tau_0 - tau_3) under the action

        X ->  A! X A

are seen to be respectively, SU(2), SU(1, 1) and IU(1), the local homomorphs of SO(3), SO(2, 1) and ISO(2).

   Let
        (zeta| = (z_1, z_2) and |zeta) = (z_1, z_2)!

be elements of the dual carrier space and carrier space of the SL(2, C) representation. Then, the bilinears (zeta|tau_mu|zeta) transform as the components of a 4-vector.

For linear transformations on the "generating subspace of the adjoint representation", preservation of the commutator is equivalent to preservation of the indefinite form tau_3 (=j_3). First look at the algebra of the invariance group.


   If j is left-skew with respect to tau_3,

        tau_3 j  =  -j! tau_3

   a linearly independent set of j's can be taken as

        |0  i|   |0 -1|   |1  0|   |i  0|
        |i  0|   |1  0|   |0 -1|   |0  i|

which form a Lie algebra u(1, 1). We call these respectively, 2j_1, 2j_2, 2j_3, 2j_4.

The commutation relations for the first three are given in [Appendix C]. Clearly j_4 commutes with that set.


   For any j that is a real linear combination of these generators,

        exp( j! ) tau_3 exp( j )  =  tau_3
   and
        [exp( j )]! tau_3 [exp( j )]  =  tau_3

The transformations of the one parameter subgroup generated by j_4 belong to GL(n, C) but not to SL(2, C). Moreover, they map

        G(n) -> exp( i theta/2  G(n) )

Aside:
Note that uncertainty relations [Section XIII] are invariant under such transformations, and also that the usual map between a (Q, P) and a (B, B!) pair involve such transformations and that this transformation is considered physical in the sense of not destroying the physical structure of the system that is represented. This is to say that these transformations as well as the transformations that are real conformal transformations of G(n) may not not be without interest: electromagnetic interactions can be derived from U(1) gauge invariance in QM; local metrical structure in GR can be reduced to lightcone structure and a real conformal factor. We are presumably dealing with quantum theoretical expression in some bounded spacetime patch.

Nevertheless, for the moment discarding the phase transformation with generator j_4, the transformations of the real parameter Lie group that preserve the commutator then belong to SU(1, 1) locally isomorphic to Sp(1, R).


   In the adjoint action of SU(1, 1) on its algebra, with
   V in SU(1, 1)

                          3
       V j_k V^(-1)  =  SIGMA L_k^l(V) j_l
                         l=1

and the L_k^l(V) are the matrices of the defining representation of the group SO(2, 1) that is covered by SU(1, 1).

   Define the operator 2-spinor and its Hermitean dual

        |beta)  =  (B!(n), B(n))-TRANSPOSE
        (beta|  =  (B(n), B!(n))

   then the bilinears

        (beta| tau_mu |beta)

transform as the components of an SL(2, C) vector operator. These evaluate as the forms:

        (beta| tau_0 |beta)  =  {B(n), B!(n)}
                    =  (Q^(2(n) + P^(2(n))

        (beta| tau_1 |beta)  =  (B!^(2(n) + B^(2(n))
                    =  (Q^(2(n) - P^(2(n))

        (beta| tau_2 |beta)  =  i (B!^(2(n) - B^(2(n))
                    =  {Q(n), P(n)}
                    =  M(n) + N(n)

        (beta| tau_3 |beta)  =  [B(n), B!(n)]
                    =  -i [Q(n), P(n)]
                    =  G(n)

   The first and the last bilinears are related by

        2 N(n)  =  {B(n), B!(n)} - [B(n), B!(n)]
The component with subscript 0, or "time" component of the vector operator is the Hamiltonian of an oscillator; this is left invariant by an SU(2) subgroup. The component with subscript 1 is the Lagrangian of the oscillator. The component with subscript 2 is an analog of a correlation coefficient. The third spacelike component is G(n), left invariant by an SU(1, 1) subgroup.

The cognate lightlike operators corresponding to (tau_0 +|- tau_k)
are:

     (beta|(tau_0 - tau_1)|beta)  =  -(B!(n) - B(n))^2
                      =  2 P^2(n)

     (beta|(tau_0 - tau_1)|beta)  =  -i (B!(n) + i B(n))^2
                      =  (Q(n) - P(n))^2

     (beta|(tau_0 - tau_3)|beta)  =  2 N(n)



     (beta|(tau_0 + tau_1)|beta)  =  (B!(n) + B(n))^2
                      =  2 Q^2(n)

     (beta|(tau_0 + tau_1)|beta)  =  +i (B!(n) - i B(n))^2
                      =  (Q(n) + P(n))^2

     (beta|(tau_0 + tau_3)|beta)  =  2 N(n) + 2 G(n)
                      =  2 M(n)

with Q(n), P(n), N(n) and M(n) defined by equations (2.7), (2.2), and (2.21) respectively. These are all left invariant by an IU(1) subgroup of SL(2, C).

Aside:
The form that is being preserved is a "spinor metric", or from a different point of view what is being preserved is the symplectic structure of the bivector space associated with an abstract Lie algebra as vector space. The abstract Lie algebra itself as the carrier space for representation is either the adjoint or coadjoint representation.


   Under the complex translations

        B(n)   ->  B(n) + zeta I(n)
        B!(n)  ->  B(n) + zeta* I(n)

   for zeta complex,

        (beta| tau_0 |beta)
   
        ->  {B(n), B!(n)} + 2( zeta B!(n) + B(n) zeta* + 2 |zeta|^2


        (beta| tau_1 |beta)

        ->  (B!^2(n) + B^2(n))
               + 2( zeta B!(n) + B(n) zeta* + (zeta*^2 + zeta^2)


        (beta| tau_2 |beta)

        ->  i (B!^2(n) - B^2(n))
               + i 2( zeta B!(n) - B(n) zeta* + (zeta*^2 - zeta^2)


        (beta| tau_3 |beta)

        ->  [B(n), B!(n)]



   Under the complex translations of the B pair that are consistent with
   their relation by Hermitean conjugation, of the four components of the
   SL(2, C) vector operator, only the component that is the commutator
   [B(n), B!(n)] is invariant.  Equivalently,

       [Q(n), P(n)]  =  i G(n)

   is form invariant under the real translations,

        Q(n)   ->  Q(n) + a I(n)
        P(n)   ->  P(n) + b I(n)

   for a, b real.

   
   
   

   We want to note someplace that the I(n) in the translation transformations
   belongs to gl(2, C)

   Still further,

        [B(n), B!(n)]  =  G(n)

   is form invariant under the scaling transformations
  
        B(n)   ->  xi    B(n)
        B!(n)  ->  xi*^(-1) B(n)

   for xi complex, or equivalently,

       [Q(n), P(n)]  =  i G(n)

   is form invariant under the scaling transformations,

        Q(n)   ->  xi      Q(n)
        P(n)   ->  xi^(-1) P(n)

   for complex xi.

   These have the generators j_3 and (i j_3).
   

   The preceding considerations show:

    <Theorem 5.2>:

   The SL(2, C) action (in fact GL(2, C) on the two dimensional generating
   subspace spanned by B(n) and B!(n)

        X  ->  A! X A

        for X in GL(2, C) and for A in SL(2, C)

   extends to an automorphism of the algebra of complex linear
   operators Alg( Hilb(n) ).

   Construction of main vector operator.

   An invariance subgroup of the fundamental commutator is contained
   in each of the customarily singled out isotropy subgroups of
   SL(2, C)?

   Larger invariance group contained in GL(2, C)?

   Largest invariance group is an affine conformal group?

            |0  i  0|            |0 -1  0|
    j_1  =  |i  0  0|    j_2  =  |1  0  0|
            |0  0  0|            |0  0  0|

            |1  0  0|            |i  0  0|
    j_3  =  |0 -1  0|    j_3  =  |0 -i  0|
            |0  0  0|            |0  0  0|

            |0  0  1|            |0  0  i|
    x_1  =  |0  0  1|    x_2  =  |0  0 -i|
            |0  0  0|            |0  0  0|

   The generators j_1, j_2, j_3 form an su(1, 1) subalgebra,
   with commutation relations:

        [j_1, j_2] = +i j_3,  [j_2, j_3], = +i j_1,  [j_3, j_1] = -i j_2

   while x_1 and x_2 form a translation subalgebra.
   The addition of j_3 = i j_3, causes closure under commutation,
   on the algebra of sl(2, C), since

   [i j_1, i j_2] = -i j_3,
   [i j_2, i j_3], = -i j_1,
   [i j_3, i j_1] = +i j_2

   and

   [i j_1, j_2] = - j_3,  [i j_2, j_3], = - j_1,  [i j_3, i j] = + j_2

   which is not, however, an invariance algebra of the commutator.
   For the commutation relations with the translation generators:

   [x_1, x_2]  =  0


   [x_1, j_1]  =  -i x_1,  [x_1, j_2]  =  +i x_2,  [x_1, j_3]  =  -i x_2

   [x_2, j_1]  =  +i x_2,  [x_2, j_2]  =  +i x_1,  [x_2, j_3]  =  +i x_1


   [x_1, ij_1]  =  + x_1,  [x_1, ij_2]  =  - x_2,  [x_1, ij_3]  =  + x_2

   [x_2, ij_1]  =  - x_2,  [x_2, ij_2]  =  - x_1,  [x_2, ij_3]  =  - x_1


   thus introducing the additional translation generators ix_1 and ix_2,
   so that the algebra now closes on the inhomogeneous isl(2, C).
   For conformal invariance of the commutator, add the two generators
   d1 = i d2,

            |1  0  0|            |i  0  0|
    d_1  =  |0  1  0|    d_2  =  |0  i  0|
            |0  0  0|            |0  0  0|

   with commutators:

     [d_1, d_2]  =  0

     [d_1, j_k]  =  0,       [d_2, j_k]  =  0

     [x_1, d_1]  =  -i x_1,   [x_1, d_2]  =  -1 x_1  =  +i (ix_1)

     [x_2, d_1]  =  -i x_2,   [x_2, d_2]  =  -1 x_2  =  +i (ix_2)

   The additional commutators close on the inhomogeneous algebra igl(2, C),
   the most general coordinate transformation of an affine Euclidean space C^2.

   These invariance transformations of the FCCR commutator form do not,
   however, all preserve the Hermiticity of Q(n) and P(n), or equivalently
   the relation between B(n) and B!(n) of being Hermitean conjugates?

   The form invariance group of commutators is the inhomogeneous Lie group
   ISU(1, 1).

   The linear transformation that connects the (B(n), B!(n)) pair with the
   (Q(n), P(n)) pair is recognized as a physical isomorphism in QM, however,
   and is obviously a transformation that does not preserve Hermiticty.
   Preservation of Hermiticty is then not a requirement of physical isomorphism.

   Hermiticity v. Analyticity.

   Group of transformations that preserve the anticommutator {B, B!} ?

This covariance of commutators has no sense of course, in the context of abstract Lie algebras but rather in the context of a representation where the Lie product is represented by commutators of an associated algebra of linear operators acting on the carrier space of the representation. We consider the pairs of (Q(n), P(n)) for different values of n to be physically different, and concentrate on the primacy of fundamental or defining representations, although other representations of the abstracted structure may also be of use. The cognates in QM of these other representations would seem to appear in direct products of CCR representations which then describe systems of many particles.


   Note that the linear transformation taking the pair (B(n), B!(n)) to
   the pair (Q(n), P(n)) is:

     | Q(n) |                 |  1    1 | | B!(n) |
     |      |  =  (1/sqrt(2)) |         | |       |
     | P(n) |                 |  i   -i | | B(n)  |


                                     | B!(n) |
               :=              u     |       |
                                     | B(n)  |

and the determinant of the transformation is -i, so it is unitary, but not special unitary. See equations (10.1) and the subsection "Spin 1/2 Revisited" in [Section XVI]. The inverse transformation is obviously

          u!   =

                                 |  1   -i |
          u^(-1)  =  (1/sqrt(2)) |         |
                                 |  1    i |

   Furthermore, u may be decomposed as

          |  1    0 |             |  1    1 |
     u  = |         | (1/sqrt(2)) |         |
          |  0   -i |             | -1    1 |

           |  1    0 |  |  cos( pi/4)    sin( pi/4) |
        =  |         |  |                           |
           |  0   -i |  | -sin( pi/4)    cos( pi/4) |

                      |  exp(+i pi/4)       0 |  |  cos( pi/4)    sin( pi/4) |
      =  exp(-i pi/4) |                       |  |                           |
                      |  0       exp(-i pi/4) |  | -sin( pi/4)    cos( pi/4) |

      =  exp( -i( pi/4)tau_0 ) exp( -i( pi/4)tau_3 ) exp( -i( pi/4)tau_2 )

      =  exp( -i( pi/2)sigma_0 ) exp( -i( pi/2)sigma_3 ) exp( -i( pi/2)sigma_2 )

   Under the mapping by u, the matrices of the commutator invariance
   algebra map:

        j_1  ->  i j_3
        j_2  ->  - j_1
        j_3  ->  i j_2
        j_4  ->    j_4

   or

     | j_1' |     |  0   0   i   0 | | j_1 |
     | j_2' |     | -1   0   0   0 | | j_2 |
     | j_3' |  =  |  0   i   0   0 | | j_3 |
     | j_4' |     |  0   0   0   1 | | j_4 |







   The question raised by theorem 5.2 is whether the pseudocanonical
   transformations can be implemented also by similarity transformations.
   The similarity transformations cannot be unitary because they are
   finite dimensional representations of a noncompact group.

    <Lemma 5.3.1>:

   For B(n), B!(n) and N(n) defined by equations  (2.1)  and  (2.2),


        [N(n), B^k(n)]  =  - k B^k(n)
        [N(n), B!^k(n)]  =  + k B!^k(n)

   Therefore, for an arbitrary polynomial function f(),

        [N(n), f(B(n))]  =  - B(n) (d/dB(n)) f(B(n))
        [N(n), f(B!(n))]  =  + B!(n) (d/dB(n)) f(B!(n))

   and

        [N^k(n), B(n)]  =  - B(n) ( N^k(n) - (N(n) - I(n))^k  )
        [N^k(n), B!(n)]  =  + ( N^k(n) - (N(n) - I(n))^k  ) B!(n)

   Proof:

   By unsurprising induction.  The details are left as amusement.

   QED

    <Lemma 5.3.2>:

   From lemma 5.3.1 derive easily, the following:

        N^k(n) B(n)  =  B(n) ( N(n) - I(n) )^k
        B!(n) N^k(n) =  ( N(n) - I(n) )^k B!(n)

        [N(n), B!^k(n) B^j(n)]  =  -(k-j) B!^k(n) B^j(n)
        [N(n), B^k(n) B!^j(n)]  =  -(k-j) B^k(n) B!^j(n)


    <Definition 5.2>:

Let f(z) be an analytic function of its argument, so that it is representable by a convergent power series within a circle of convergence in the complex plane. Consider the power series expansion for f( A(n) ), where A(n) is in Alg( Hilb(n) ). It is well defined and convergent if Sp( A(n) ) lies within the circle of convergence. In analogy to the Frechet derivative, define a finite Frechet difference, by

        delta f( A(n) )  :=  f( A(n) ) - f( A(n) - I(n) )

   The second Frechet difference similarly

        delta^(2) f(A(n))  :=  f(A(n)) - 2f(A(n) - I(n)) + f(A(n) - 2I(n))

   and more generally the m-th Frechet difference

                                m
     delta^(m) f( A(n) )  :=  SIGMA (-1)^j B(m j) f( A(n) - j I(n) )
                               j=0

   where B(m j) are the binomial coefficients, and

        delta^(m) f( A(n) ) = 0 if m < 0, while
        delta^(m) f( A(n) ) = A(n) if m = 0.




   Consequently, (without proof)

     delta^(m) [alpha f(A(n))]  =  alpha [delta^(m) f(A(n))]

     delta^(m) [f(A(n)) + g(A(n))]  =  delta^(m) f(A(n)) + delta^(m) g(A(n))

     delta^(m) [f(A(n)) g(A(n))]
           =  [delta^(m) f(A(n))]g(A(n)) + f(A(n))[delta^(m) g(A(n))]

     delta^(m) delta^(k) f(A(n)) = delta^(m+k) f(A(n))


    <Lemma 5.3.3>:

   The k-fold commutator can be expressed by,

        C(A: B, k)  =  k!  SIGMA  (-1)^m (B^j A B^m/(j! m!))
                           j+m=k

   Proof:

   From the Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff formula  (7.3),

       C(A: B, k)  =  (d/d alpha)^k ( exp(+alpha B) A exp(-alpha B) |
                                                                    | alpha = 0

   and expanding the exponentials

       exp(+alpha B) A exp(-alpha B)  =

            SIGMA (-1)^m alpha^(j+m)/(j! m!) B^j A B^m
             j,m

   To obtain the formula,
   perform the k-th derivative of this expression and set alpha = 0.

   QED


    <Lemma 5.3.4>:

   From  Lemma 5.3.1, and assuming a convergent power series expansion for
   f( N(n) ), we can write

        [f( N(n) ), B(n)]   =  - B(n) delta f( N(n )

        [delta f( N(n) ), B(n)]   =  - B(n) delta^(2) f( N(n )

        [delta^(m) f( N(n) ), B(n)]   =  - B(n) delta^(m+1) f( N(n )

        [delta^(m) f( N(n) ), B^2(n)]
            =  - B^2(n) (2 delta^(m+1) f( N(n ) ) - delta^(m+2) f( N(n) ) )


        [delta^(m) f( N(n) ), B^k(n)]
                          k
            =  - B^k(n) SIGMA (-1)^(j-1) B(m j) delta^(m+j) f( N(n ) )
                         j=1


        [f( N(n) ), B!(n)]  =  + delta f( N(n ) B!(n)

        [delta f( N(n) ), B!(n)]   =  + delta^(2) f( N(n ) B!(n)

        [delta^(m) f( N(n) ), B!(n)]   =  + delta^(m+1) f( N(n ) B!(n)

        [delta^(m) f( N(n) ), B!^2(n)]
            =  + (2 delta^(m+1) f( N(n ) ) - delta^(m+2) f( N(n) ) ) B!^2(n)

        [delta^(m) f( N(n) ), B!^k(n)]
                   k
            =  + SIGMA (-1)^(j-1) B(m j) delta^(m+j) f( N(n ) ) B!^k(n)
                  j=1



        C(f( N(n) ): B(n), m)
            =  (-1)^m B^m(n) (2 delta^(m-1) f( N(n) ) - delta^(m) f( N(n) ) )

        C(f( N(n) ): B!(n), m)
            =  (2 delta^(m-1) f( N(n) ) - delta^(m) f( N(n) ) ) B!^m(n)

   where C( . : . , m) is the m-fold commutator defined by
   equation  (7.4a).

   Proof:




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Created: August 1997
Last Updated: May 28, 2000