Paper 4, Section II, H

Representation Theory
Part II, 2014

Let G=SU(2)G=\mathrm{SU}(2).

(i) Sketch a proof that there is an isomorphism of topological groups G/{±I}G /\{\pm I\} \cong SO(3)\mathrm{SO}(3)

(ii) Let V2V_{2} be the irreducible complex representation of GG of dimension 3. Compute the character of the (symmetric power) representation Sn(V2)S^{n}\left(V_{2}\right) of GG for any n0n \geqslant 0. Show that the dimension of the space of invariants (Sn(V2))G\left(S^{n}\left(V_{2}\right)\right)^{G}, meaning the subspace of Sn(V2)S^{n}\left(V_{2}\right) where GG acts trivially, is 1 for nn even and 0 for nn odd. [Hint: You may find it helpful to restrict to the unit circle subgroup S1GS^{1} \leqslant G. The irreducible characters of GG may be quoted without proof.]

Using the fact that V2V_{2} yields the standard 3-dimensional representation of SO(3)\mathrm{SO}(3), show that n0SnV2C[x,y,z]\bigoplus_{n \geqslant 0} S^{n} V_{2} \cong \mathbb{C}[x, y, z]. Deduce that the ring of complex polynomials in three variables x,y,zx, y, z which are invariant under the action of SO(3)\mathrm{SO}(3) is a polynomial ring in one generator. Find a generator for this polynomial ring.