G parity

In particle physics, G parity is a multiplicative quantum number that results from the generalization of C parity (charge conjugation) to multiplets of particles.

It was introduced by Louis Michel in 1953 as isotopic parity, and later introduced as G parity by T.D. Lee and C.N. Yang in 1956.

Description

Charge conjugation or C parity applies only to neutral systems. For example, in the pion triplet, only the neutral pion π⁰ has C parity. On the other hand, strong interaction does not see electrical charge, so it cannot distinguish amongst π⁺, π⁰ and π⁻. We can generalize the C parity so it applies to all charge states of a given multiplet:

${\mathcal {G}}:{\begin{pmatrix}\pi ^{+}\\\pi ^{0}\\\pi ^{-}\end{pmatrix}}=\eta _{G}{\begin{pmatrix}\pi ^{+}\\\pi ^{0}\\\pi ^{-}\end{pmatrix}}$

where η_G = ±1 are the eigenvalues of G parity. The G parity operator is defined as

${\hat {\mathcal {G}}}={\hat {\mathcal {C}}}\,e^{(i\pi {\hat {I}}_{2})}$

where ${\hat {\mathcal {C}}}$ is the C parity operator, and ${\hat {I}}_{2}$ is the operator associated with the 2nd component of the isospin "vector", which in case of isospin $I=1/2$ takes the form ${\hat {I}}_{2}=\sigma _{2}/2$, where $\sigma _{2}$ is the second Pauli matrix. G-parity is a combination of charge conjugation and a π radians (180°) rotation around the 2nd axis of isospin space. Given that charge and isospin are preserved by strong interactions, so is G. Weak and electromagnetic interactions, though, does not conserve G parity.

Since G parity is applied on a whole multiplet, charge conjugation has to see the multiplet as a neutral entity. Thus, only multiplets with an average charge of 0 will be eigenstates of G, that is

${\bar {Q}}={\bar {B}}={\bar {Y}}=0,$

where Q is the electric charge of the multiplet, B is the baryon number and Y of the hypercharge.

In general

$\eta _{\mathrm {G} }=\eta _{\mathrm {C} }\,(-1)^{I}$

where η_C is a C parity eigenvalue, and I is the isospin.

Since no matter whether the system is fermion–antifermion or boson–antiboson, $\eta _{\mathrm {C} }$ always equals to $(-1)^{L+S}$, we have

$\eta _{\mathrm {G} }=(-1)^{S+L+I}\,$.

See also

• Quark model

References

• Charles Goebel (1956). "Selection Rules for NN̅ Annihilation". Phys. Rev. 103 (1): 258–261. Bibcode:1956PhRv..103..258G. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.103.258.