Skip to main content
Log in

Symmetry theory in a two-level quantum system

  • Published:
Foundations of Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We develop the theory of symmetry for a two-level quantum system in oder to illustrate the main ideas of the general theory of symmetry in quantum theory. It is based on the diffeomorphism of the two-dimensional sphere S2 onto the space of states ℂP1 and the isomorphism between the groups Pℳ(2) and SO 3 (ℝ). In particular, rotational invariance leads to the appearance of the spin1/2 in a natural way.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. P. Feynman, R. B. Leighton, and M. Sands,The Feynman Lectures in Physics III (Addison Wesley, Reading, 1965), Chapters 9, 10, and 14.

    Google Scholar 

  2. C. Cohen-Tannoudji, B. Diu, and F. Laloe,Mécanique Quantique (Hermann, Paris, 1973), Chapter 4.

    Google Scholar 

  3. E. Merzbacher,Quantum Mechanics (Wiley, New York, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  4. M. Jammer,The Conceptual Development of Quantum Mechanics (McGraw Hill, New York, 1966), p. 153.

    Google Scholar 

  5. A. Galindo and C. Sánchez del Río,Am. J. Phys. 29, 582 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  6. J. M. Lévy-Leblond, “Galilei group and Galilean invariance,” inGroup Theory and its Applications, Vol. II, E. Loebl, ed. (Academic Press, New York, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  7. J. M. Lévy-Leblond,Riv. Nuovo Cimento,4 99 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  8. F. Brickell and R. S. Clark,Differentiable manifolds (Van Nostrand, New York, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  9. P. S. Theocaris and E. E. Gdoutos,Matrix Theory of Photoelasticity (Springer, New York, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  10. V. Bargmann,J. Math. Phys. 5, 862 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  11. J. M. Normand,A Lie group: Rotations in Quantum Mechanics (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  12. J. F. Cariñena and M. Santander,J. Math. Phys. 20, 2168 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  13. L. J. Boya, J. F. Cariñena, and M. Santander,Commun. Math. Phys. 37, 331 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  14. L. J. Boya, J. F. Cariñena, and J. Mateos,Fortschr. Phys. 26, 175 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  15. L. C. Biedenharn and J. D. Louck,Angular Momentum in Quantum Mechanics (Addison-Wesley, Reading, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  16. J. F. Cariñena and M. Santander,J. Math. Phys. 16, 1416 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  17. U. Cattaneo,J. Math. Phys. 19, 452 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  18. E. P. Wigner,Ann. Math. 40, 149 (1939).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cariñena, J.F., Santander, M. Symmetry theory in a two-level quantum system. Found Phys 15, 851–859 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00738318

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00738318

Keywords

Navigation