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Quantum Angular Momentum and Irreducible Representations of SU(2)
Student-Run Discrete Math Seminar| Speaker: | Pat Dragon, UC Davis |
| Location: | 2112 MSB |
| Start time: | Thu, Mar 6 2008, 3:10PM |
Quantum mechanics is an axiomatic branch of theoretical physics which, put roughly, explores the behavior of very tiny particles. While any classical "solar system" model of the hydrogen atom fails, quantum mechanics has successfully predicted many properties of the hydrogen atom, including angular momentum, extremely accurately. One interesting correspondence arises between quantum angular momentum "states" and the irreducible representations of SU(2). Another arises between the decomposition into irreps of tensor products and the summation of angular momenta. I intend to explore some details of these correspondences, motivated both physically and mathematically.