Classification of Three-Particle States According to <i>SU</i>3

Abstract

It is shown that the set of states for three noninteracting particles can be put into a one-to-one correspondence with the set of irreducible representations of SU3. This classification leads to three-particle angular momentum states which treat all particles on an equal footing. The states exhibit the maximum localization compatible with a given total energy, momentum, and angular momentum. Only nonrelativistic particles are treated.