v· mathematics, the name symplectic group can refer to two different, but closely related, types of mathematical groups, denoted Sp(2n, F) and Sp(n). The latter is sometimes called the compact symplectic group to distinguish it from the former. Many authors prefer slightly different notations, usually differing by factors of 2. The notation used here is consistent with the size of the matrices used to represent the groups. In Cartan's classification of the simple Lie algebras, the Lie algebra of the complex group Sp(2n, C) is denoted Cn, and Sp(n) is the compact real form of Sp(2n, C).
The name "symplectic group" is due to Hermann Weyl (details) as a replacement for the previous confusing names of (line) complex group and Abelian group, and is the Greek analog of "complex".
More abstractly, the symplectic group can be defined as the set of linear transformations of a 2n-dimensional vector space over F that preserve a nondegenerate, skew-symmetric, bilinear form. Such a vector space is called a symplectic vector space. The symplectic group of an abstract symplectic vector space V is also denoted Sp(V).
When n = 1, the symplectic condition on a matrix is satisfied if and only if the determinant is one, so that Sp(2, F) = SL(2, F). For n > 1, there are additional conditions, i.e. Sp(2n, F) is then a proper subgroup of SL(2n, F).
Typically, the field F is the field of real numbers, R, or complex numbers, C. In this case Sp(2n, F) is a real/complex Lie group of real/complex dimension n(2n + 1). These groups are connected but noncompact. Sp(2n, C) is simply connected while Sp(2n, R) has a fundamental group isomorphic to Z.
The Lie algebra of Sp(2n, F) is given by the set of 2n×2n matrices A (with entries in F) that satisfy
ΩA + ATΩ = 0
where AT is the transpose of A and Ω is the skew-symmetric matrix
Sp(n)
The compact symplectic group, Sp(n), is the subgroup of GL(n, H) (invertible quaternionic matrices) which preserves the standard hermitian form on Hn:
That is, Sp(n) is just the quaternionic unitary group, U(n, H). Indeed, it is sometimes called the hyperunitary group. Also Sp(1) is the group of quaternions of unit 1, equivalent to SU(2) and topologically a 3-sphere S3.
Note that Sp(n) is not a symplectic group in the sense of the previous section—it does not preserve a non-degenerate skew-symmetric (H-bilinear) form on Hn (in fact, the only skew-symmetric form is the zero form). Rather, it is isomorphic to a subgroup of Sp(2n,C), and so does preserve a complex symplectic form in a vector space of dimension twice as high. As explained below, the Lie algebra of Sp(n) is a real form of the complex symplectic Lie algebra sp(2n, C).
Sp(n) is a real Lie group with (real) dimension n(2n + 1). It is compact, connected, and simply connected. It can be defined by the intersection Sp(n)=U(2n) ∩ Sp(2n, C), where U(2n) stands for the unitary group.
The Lie algebra of Sp(n) is given by the quaternionic skew-Hermitian matrices, the set of n by n quaternionic matrices that satisfy
where is the conjugate transpose of A (here one takes the quaternionic conjugate). The Lie bracket is given by the commutator.
Relationships between the symplectic groups
The relationship between the groups Sp(2n, C), Sp(2n, R) and Sp(n) is most evident at the level of their Lie algebras. It turns out that the first of these Lie algebras is a complexification of the Lie algebras of either of the latter two groups.
Stated slightly differently, the complex Lie algebra sp(2n, C) of the complex Lie group Sp(2n, C) has several different real forms:
the compact form, sp(n), which is the Lie algebra of Sp(n),
the algebras, sp(p, n − p), which are the Lie algebras of Sp(p, n − p), the indefinite signature equivalent to the compact form,
the normal form (or split form), sp(2n, R), which is the Lie algebra of Sp(2n, R).
Important subgroups
The symplectic group Sp(n) is sometimes written as USp(2n) which is convenient for the following equations. The symplectic group comes up in quantum physics as a symmetry on poisson brackets so it is important to understand its subgroups. Some main subgroups are:
The symplectic groups are also subgroups of various Lie groups:
There are also the isomorphisms of the Lie algebras usp(4) = o(5) and usp(2) = o(3) = su(2).
symplectic group — simplektinė grupė statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. symplectic group vok. symplektische Gruppe, f rus. симплектическая группа, f pranc. groupe sympléctique, m … Fizikos terminų žodynas
Symplectic geometry — is a branch of differential topology/geometry which studies symplectic manifolds; that is, differentiable manifolds equipped with a closed, nondegenerate 2 form. Symplectic geometry has its origins in the Hamiltonian formulation of classical… … Wikipedia
Symplectic vector space — In mathematics, a symplectic vector space is a vector space V equipped with a nondegenerate, skew symmetric, bilinear form omega; called the symplectic form. Explicitly, a symplectic form is a bilinear form omega; : V times; V rarr; R which is *… … Wikipedia
Symplectic matrix — In mathematics, a symplectic matrix is a 2n times; 2n matrix M (whose entries are typically either real or complex) satisfying the condition:M^T Omega M = Omega,.where MT denotes the transpose of M and Omega; is a fixed nonsingular, skew… … Wikipedia
Symplectic representation — In mathematical field of representation theory, a symplectic representation is a representation of a group or a Lie algebra on a symplectic vector space ( V , omega; ) which preserves the symplectic form omega; . Here omega; is a nondegenerate… … Wikipedia
Symplectic manifold — In mathematics, a symplectic manifold is a smooth manifold, M, equipped with a closed nondegenerate differential 2 form, ω, called the symplectic form. The study of symplectic manifolds is called symplectic geometry or symplectic topology.… … Wikipedia
Group of Lie type — In mathematics, a group of Lie type G(k) is a (not necessarily finite) group of rational points of a reductive linear algebraic group G with values in the field k. Finite groups of Lie type form the bulk of nonabelian finite simple groups.… … Wikipedia
Group (mathematics) — This article covers basic notions. For advanced topics, see Group theory. The possible manipulations of this Rubik s Cube form a group. In mathematics, a group is an algebraic structure consisting of a set together with an operation that combines … Wikipedia
Group extension — In mathematics, a group extension is a general means of describing a group in terms of a particular normal subgroup and quotient group. If Q and N are two groups, then G is an extension of Q by N if there is a short exact sequence:1 ightarrow N… … Wikipedia