# What is the vector representation of $\mathrm{SO}(6)$?

What is meant by the vector representation of $$\mathrm{SO}(6)$$?

I have only encountered the term vector representation in the context of the Lorentz group $$\mathrm{SO}(1,3)$$, where it refers to the $$(1/2,1/2)$$ representation, derived from the isomorphism $$\mathrm{so}(1,3) \cong \mathrm{su}(2) \oplus \mathrm{su}(2)$$ of the Lie algebra.

• The isomorphism you mention does not exist. The $\mbox{so}(1,3)$ needs to be complexified and the same for the $\mbox{su}(2)$. – DanielC Feb 13 '20 at 14:19

Unless there is any further context, it's the fundamental 6-dimensional representation: if $$M^T M=1_6\,,\quad \det M=1\,,\qquad M \;\text{is}\; 6\times 6$$ so $$M$$ is an $$SO(6)$$ matrix, then the representation space is $$\mathbb R^6$$ and $$M$$ acts as $$\mathbb R^6\ni v \to Mv.$$

• Thanks! Yes, it seems to be the case from the context. Is this terminology standard? It seems a bit strange. In another place in the same paper, they talk about the fundamental representation, which seems to refer to the same thing. It seems to me it would be better to use the term defining representation. – Étienne Bézout Feb 13 '20 at 11:27
• Yes, for $so(\dots)$ things. "Fundamental representation" can be ambiguous in the presence of exceptional isomorphisms for low rank algebras, notably in this very case of $su(4)\cong so(6)$ (as Lie algebras). – alexarvanitakis Feb 13 '20 at 11:31
• Alright, thanks! – Étienne Bézout Feb 13 '20 at 11:32

As already stated in another answer, the vector representation of $$SO(6)$$ is the fundamental representation. Since you mentioned the $$(1/2,1/2)$$ representation of $$so(1,3)$$ I would like to add some examples of non-vector representations.

A simple example of a representation different from the vector representation is the adjoint representation acting on the vector space of $$6\times 6$$ matrices. Here, $$g\in SO(6)$$ acts as $$A\in M_6(\mathbb{R})\mapsto g^{-1}A g$$. Also a spinor does not transform in the vector representation of $$SO(1,3)$$, but in a projective one, e.g. in $$(1/2,0)$$ and $$(0,1/2)$$.

You might check this related question discussing the terminology of the expression "vector representation".

• Thanks for the example and for the link! – Étienne Bézout Feb 13 '20 at 16:08