Physics 385, Spring 2012 Problem Set 4

Due Tuesday, May 8 1. Let D be an irrep of dimension d a nite group G, and Ci be some conugacy class of in G. Consider the matrix Bi = gCi D (g) consisting of the sum of the matrices which correspond to the elements of the conjugacy class Ci . (a) Using Schurs lemma, show that this matrix is a multiple of identity: (Bi )kl = kl . i (b) The coecient is called the Dirac character of the class Ci . By taking i traces relate the Dirac character to the ordinary character = (Ci ). i (c) Using the irreducibility criterion considered in class, obtain a formula for the dimension d in terms of the order of the group |G|, the number of elements |Ck | in the conjugacy class Ck , and the . k 2. Properties of projection operators. Recall the denition: n [ ] Pij = D (g) D(g). |G| gG ij

(1)

(a) Prove the multiplication rule for projection operators that was given in class:
Pij Pij = ji Pij .

(2)

(b) Show that the projection operators satisfy the following equation:
D(g)Pij

n k=1

Dki (g)Pkj .

(3)

3. Recall that the dihedral group Dn consists of rotations by multiples of 2/n about an n-fold axis, as well as rotations about n 2-fold axes orthogonal to the n-fold axis. This is the symmetry group of a regular n-gon. Find the conjugacy classes of the dihedral group D4 by considering its elements as permutations S4 of the vertices of the square. What is the subgroup of S4 that is isomorphic to D4 ? 4. Show D4 A1 A2 B1 B2 E that the e C2 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 character table for the dihedral group D4 is 2C4 2C2 2C2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1

Here the notation for the conjugacy classes is as follows: C2 stands for a class that 4 consists of a single element that is the square of a four-fold rotation (that is, a rotation by ), and 2C4 stands for a class with two elements that are both rotations by /2, etc. Find the geometric meaning of these classes (why are there dierent classes with 2-fold rotations?) and identify them with the ones found in problem 3 as classes of permutations. 5. This problem is taken from Georgi (problem 1.F). You may nd it useful to read sections 1.16 and 1.17 from this book, scans of which are posted on chalk, see section Course Documents. A mechanical system consists of four identical blocks sliding on a frictionless plane, connected by four identical springs so that they form a square with the blocks at the vertices. Analyze the normal modes using the 8-element symmetry group of the square. Assume that the springs are rigidly attached to the blocks (rather than pivoted, for example), so that the square has some rigidity.