The Dirac matrices are a set of 16 matrices created from the Pauli matrices by using the *Kronecker product. All 16 Dirac matrices square to positive one (i.e. ). Any 5 that anticommute can be used as the basis for Cℓ5,0(R). Dirac originally used which are shown in blue.
Surprisingly the 4 by 4 table above forms a multiplication table even though it is actually created by the following rules:
where and are the original 2x2 Pauli matrices and is the *Kronecker product (not the tensor product)
And
The Dirac matrices are commonly referred to by the following name. Note that 4 of the Dirac matrices are denoted even though the same symbol can refer to the original Pauli matrices.
The 16 original Dirac matrices form six anticommuting sets of five matrices each (Arfken 1985, p. 214).
Any of the 15 original Dirac matrices (excluding the identity matrix ) anticommute with eight other original Dirac matrices and commute with the remaining eight, including itself and the identity matrix.
- Source: Weisstein, Eric W. "Dirac Matrices." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/DiracMatrices.html
Alpha multiplication table
Note that unlike the 3 dimensional case with Pauli matrices, the pseudoscalar in 5 dimensions is the negative of the identity matrix. () In seven dimensions it would be again. See *Classification_of_Clifford_algebras#Unit_pseudoscalar.
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Failed to parse (unknown function "\small"): {\displaystyle {\small \begin{array}{c|cccc} {\color{red} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} \\\hline {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{red} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \end{pmatrix} \\ {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \end{pmatrix} & {\color{red} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \end{pmatrix} \\ {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \end{pmatrix} & {\color{red} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \end{pmatrix} \\ {\color{green} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{green} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{green} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{green} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{red} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} \\ {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & {\color{red} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}} \\\hline \begin{pmatrix} -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} \\ \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} \\ \begin{pmatrix} 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} \\ {\color{green} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \end{pmatrix} \\ {\color{green} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \end{pmatrix} \\ {\color{green} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \end{pmatrix} \\ \begin{pmatrix} 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} \\ \begin{pmatrix} 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} \\ \begin{pmatrix} -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & 0 &-1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & \begin{pmatrix} -i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} \\ \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & i & 0 & 0 \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & i \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 &-1 & 0 \end{pmatrix} & \begin{pmatrix} i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-i & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \end{pmatrix} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 0 &-i & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 &-i \\ i & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & i & 0 & 0 \end{pmatrix}} & {\color{blue} \begin{pmatrix} -1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 &-1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix}} \\ \end{array}} } |
Failed to parse (unknown function "\small"): {\displaystyle {\small \begin{array}{r|rrrr} & {\color{blue}1} & {\color{blue}2} & {\color{blue}3} & {\color{blue}4} & {\color{blue}5} \\\hline {\color{blue}1} & & 12 & 13 & 14 & 15 \\ {\color{blue}2} & 21 & & 23 & 24 & 25 \\ {\color{blue}3} & 31 & 32 & & 34 & 35 \\ {\color{blue}4} & 41 & 42 & 43 & & 45 \\ {\color{blue}5} & 51 & 52 & 53 & 54 & \\\hline 21 & {\color{blue}2} & {\color{blue}-1} & 54 & 53 & 43 \\ 31 & {\color{blue}3} & 54 & {\color{blue}-1} &-52 & 42 \\ 32 &-54 & {\color{blue}3} & {\color{blue}-2} & 51 &-41 \\ {\color{green}41} & {\color{blue}4} & 53 & 52 &{\color{blue}-1} &-32 \\ {\color{green}42} & 53 & {\color{blue}4} &-51 &{\color{blue}-2} & 31 \\ {\color{green}43} &-52 & 51 & {\color{blue}4} &{\color{blue}-3} &-21 \\ 51 & {\color{blue}5} & 43 &-42 & 32 &{\color{blue}-1} \\ 52 &-43 & {\color{blue}5} & 41 &-31 &{\color{blue}-2} \\ 53 & 42 &-41 & {\color{blue}5} & 21 &{\color{blue}-3} \\ 54 &-32 & 31 &-21 & {\color{blue}5} &{\color{blue}-4} \end{array}} }
Gamma matrices
The gamma matrices, are a set of conventional matrices with specific anticommutation relations that ensure they generate a matrix representation of the Clifford algebra Cℓ1,3(R).[1]
The first squares to one and the rest square to negative one:
- Failed to parse (syntax error): {\displaystyle ({\color{green} \gamma^0})^2 = I_4 \\ ({\color{green} \gamma^1})^2 = -I_4 \\ ({\color{green} \gamma^2})^2 = -I_4 \\ ({\color{green} \gamma^3})^2 = -I_4 }
For reference: