Skip to main content
Log in

A decomposition theorem for SU(n) and its application to CP-violation through quark mass diagonalisation

  • Nuclear And Particle Physics
  • Published:
Pramana Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is proved that the groupG=SU(n) has a decompositionG=FCF whereF is a maximal abelian subgroup andC is an (n − 1)2 parameter subset of matrices. The result is applied to the problem of absorbing the maximum possible number of phases in the mass-diagonalising matrix of the charged weak current into the quark fields; i.e., of determining the exact number of CP-violating phases for arbitrary number of generations. The inadequacies of the usual way of solving this problem are discussed. Then=3 case is worked out in detail as an example of the constructive procedure furnished by the proof of the decomposition theorem.

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

  • Ellis J 1978Proc. Summer Inst. on Particle Physics, SLAC report No. 215

  • Harari H 1976 Lectures at the Les Houches Summer School

  • Helgason S 1962Differential Geometry and Symmetric spaces (New York and London: Academic Press)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Hermann R 1966Lie Groups for Physicists (New York: W A Benjamin)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi M and Maskawa T 1973Prog. Theor. Phys. 49 652

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Divakaran, P.P., Ramachandran, R. A decomposition theorem for SU(n) and its application to CP-violation through quark mass diagonalisation. Pramana - J Phys 14, 47–56 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02846463

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02846463

Keywords

Navigation