so(3) ⊂ su(3) revisited

Abstract

This paper reproduces the result of Elliot, namely that the irreducible finite dimensional representation of the Lie algebra su(3) of highest weight (m, n) is decomposed according to the embedding so(3) ⊂ su(3). First, a realisation (a representation in terms of vector fields) of the Lie algebra su(3) is constructed on a space of polynomials of three variables. The special polynomial basis of the representation space is given. In this basis, we find the highest weight vectors of the representation of the Lie subalgebra so(3) and in this way the representation space is decomposed to the direct sum of invariant subspaces. The process is illustrated by the example of the decomposition of the representation of highest weight (2, 2). As an additional result, the generating function of the decomposition is given.