Wigner rotations, Bargmann invariants and geometric phases

Mukunda, N and Aravind, PK and Simon, R (2003) Wigner rotations, Bargmann invariants and geometric phases. In: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, 36 (9). pp. 2347-2370.

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Abstract

The concept of the 'Wigner rotation', familiar from the composition law of (pure) Lorentz transformations, is described in the general setting of Lie group coset spaces and the properties of coset representatives. Examples of Abelian and non-Abelian Wigner rotations are given. The Lorentz group Wigner rotation, occurring in the coset space SL(2, R)/SO(2)$\simeq$ SO(2, 1)/SO(2), is shown to be an analytic continuation of a Wigner rotation present in the behaviour of particles with nonzero helicity under spatial rotations, belonging to the coset space SU(2)/U(1)$\simeq$ SO(3)/SO(2). The possibility of interpreting these two Wigner rotations as geometric phases is shown in detail. Essential background material on geometric phases, Bargmann invariants and null phase curves, all of which are needed for this purpose, is provided.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General
Publisher:	Institute of Physics
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Institute of Physics.
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Centre for Theoretical Studies (Ceased to exist at the end of 2003)
Date Deposited:	01 Jun 2006
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:28
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/7309

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