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dontknow
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- TL;DR Summary
- Reducing Representations of tensors
I was reading zee's group theory in a nutshell.
I understand that we can decompose a 2 index tensor for rotation group into an antisymmetric vector(3), symmetric traceless tensor(5) and a scalar(trace of the tensor). Because "trace is invariant" it put a condition on the transformation of symmetric tensor elements, reduces it further from dimension from 6 to 5. But when we go for 3-index tensor and try to take a trace with 2 dimension Kronecker delta, we don't get an invariant quantity (like trace(scalar) for 2 index tensor). Can we really make a "symmetric traceless" 3 index tensor by subtracting a quantity which kind of transform like a vector?
What's the definition of trace for n indexed tensor (if possible specify reasons)?
Sorry for not posting any mathematical equation.
Thanks in advance
I understand that we can decompose a 2 index tensor for rotation group into an antisymmetric vector(3), symmetric traceless tensor(5) and a scalar(trace of the tensor). Because "trace is invariant" it put a condition on the transformation of symmetric tensor elements, reduces it further from dimension from 6 to 5. But when we go for 3-index tensor and try to take a trace with 2 dimension Kronecker delta, we don't get an invariant quantity (like trace(scalar) for 2 index tensor). Can we really make a "symmetric traceless" 3 index tensor by subtracting a quantity which kind of transform like a vector?
What's the definition of trace for n indexed tensor (if possible specify reasons)?
Sorry for not posting any mathematical equation.
Thanks in advance