special unitary group SU(n)

E593508

The special unitary group SU(n) is a fundamental compact Lie group consisting of n×n unitary matrices with determinant 1, central in mathematics and physics, especially in quantum theory and gauge symmetries.

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Observed surface forms (2)

Surface form Occurrences
SU(n) 0
SU(N) 2

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Lie group
compact Lie group
matrix group
semisimple Lie group
simple Lie group (for n ≥ 2)
special unitary group
center cyclic group of order n
{e^{2πik/n} I_n | k = 0,…,n−1}
definedAs group of n×n unitary matrices with determinant 1
dimensionOverℝ n² − 1
DynkinType A_{n−1}
fundamentalGroup trivial (for n ≥ 2)
HaarMeasure admits a bi-invariant probability Haar measure
hasProperty all finite-dimensional unitary representations are completely reducible
is a classical Lie group
a compact real form of SL(n,ℂ)
a compact, connected, simply connected, simple Lie group of type A_{n−1} for n ≥ 2
a complex algebraic group
a real Lie group
a simple compact Lie group for n ≥ 2
abelian for n = 1
compact
non-abelian for n ≥ 2
simply connected (for n ≥ 2)
the intersection U(n) ∩ SL(n,ℂ)
LieAlgebra su(n)
LieAlgebraDescription traceless skew-Hermitian n×n complex matrices
LieAlgebraDimension n² − 1
maximalTorus diagonal unitary matrices with determinant 1
maximalTorusDimension n − 1
overField complex numbers ℂ
rank n − 1
representationTheory irreducible representations classified by highest weights
roleInPhysics flavor and color symmetries in the Standard Model
internal symmetry group in gauge theories
specialCase SU(1) is the trivial group
SU(2) is diffeomorphic to the 3-sphere S³ NERFINISHED
SU(2) is isomorphic to the group of unit quaternions NERFINISHED
SU(2) is the double cover of SO(3)
SU(3) is used in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) NERFINISHED
subsetOf SL(n,ℂ) NERFINISHED
U(n)
symbol SU(n) NERFINISHED
topology a compact smooth manifold of real dimension n² − 1
usedIn gauge theory
particle physics
quantum field theory
quantum mechanics

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Lie group hasExample special unitary group SU(n)
Yang–Mills existence and mass gap problem typicalGaugeGroup special unitary group SU(n)
this entity surface form: SU(N)
Yang–Mills theory usesSymmetryGroup special unitary group SU(n)
this entity surface form: SU(N)