Abstract
To deepen our understanding of the symmetries in the Y — T 3 plane, which occurred in the last problems investigated in Chap. 6, we turn back to group theory. We suspect that the figures obtained represent the multiplets of a new symmetry. The question arises as to the nature of the symmetry group that is underlying these multiplets. Because isospin multiplets are a part of the larger ones of the obtained multiplets and since isospin is a realization of the SU(2) symmetry, we try the next higher group, the SU(3). Indeed we will find that the multiplets of SU(3) fit exactly the figures obtained in Exercises 6.3–5.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
See Vol. 1 in this series: Quantum Mechanics I— An Introduction (Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg 1989) .
Compare for example M. Gell-Mann, Y. Ne’eman: The Eightfold Way (Benjamin, New York 1964).
It can be shown that the group SU(n) in general is of rank (n — 1).
Following S. Gasiorowicz: Elementary Particle Physics (Wiley, New York 1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Greiner, W., Müller, B. (1989). The SU(3) Symmetry. In: Quantum Mechanics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-00902-4_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-00902-4_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-19201-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-00902-4
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive