The algebra and geometry of SU(3) matrices

Abstract

We give an elementary treatment of the defining representation and Lie algebra of the three-dimensional unitary unimodular group SU(3). The geometrical properties of the Lie algebra, which is an eight dimensional real linear vector space, are developed in an SU(3) covariant manner. The f and d symbols of SU(3) lead to two ways of 'multiplying' two vectors to produce a third, and several useful geometric and algebraic identities are derived. The axis-angle parametrization of SU(3) is developed as a generalization of that for SU(2), and the specifically new features are brought out. Application to the dynamics of three-level systems is outlined.