(i) Let H be a normal subgroup of the group G. Let G/H denote the group of cosets g~=gH for g∈G. If D:G→GL(Cn) is a representation of G with D(h1)=D(h2) for all h1,h2∈H show that D~(g~)=D(g) is well-defined and that it is a representation of G/H. Show further that D~(g~) is irreducible if and only if D(g) is irreducible.
(ii) For a matrix U∈SU(2) define the linear map ΦU:R3→R3 by ΦU(x)⋅σ= Ux.σU† with σ=(σ1,σ2,σ3)T as the vector of the Pauli spin matrices
σ1=(0110),σ2=(0i−i0),σ3=(100−1)
Show that ∥ΦU(x)∥=∥x∥. Because of the linearity of ΦU there exists a matrix R(U) such that ΦU(x)=R(U)x. Given that any SU(2) matrix can be written as
U=cosαI−isinαn⋅σ
where α∈[0,π] and n is a unit vector, deduce that R(U)∈SO(3) for all U∈SU(2). Compute R(U)n and R(U)x in the case that x⋅n=0 and deduce that R(U) is the matrix of a rotation about n with angle 2α.
[Hint: m.σn.σ=m.nI+i(m×n).σ.]
Show that R(U) defines a surjective homomorphism Θ:SU(2)→SO(3) and find the kernel of Θ.