isomorphism of the group PSL_2(C) with the group of Möbius transformations


We identify the group G of Möbius transformationsPlanetmathPlanetmath with the projective special linear groupMathworldPlanetmath P⁢S⁢L2⁢(ℂ). The isomorphismMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmath Ψ (of topological groups) is given by Ψ:[(abcd)]↦a⁢z+bc⁢z+d. (Here, the notation [M] means the equivalence classMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmath [M]={M⁢t∣t∈ℂ})

This mapping is:

Well-defined:

If [(abcd)]=[(a′b′c′d′)] then (a′,b′,c′,d′)=t⁢(a,b,c,d) for some t, so z↦a⁢z+bc⁢z+d is the same transformation as z↦a′⁢z+b′c′⁢z+d′.

A homomorphismMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmath:

Calculating the composition

a⁢z+bc⁢z+d|z=e⁢w+fg⁢w+h=a⁢e⁢w+fg⁢w+h+bc⁢e⁢w+fg⁢w+h+d=(a⁢e+b⁢g)⁢w+(a⁢f+b⁢h)(c⁢e+d⁢g)⁢w+(c⁢f+d⁢h)

we see that Ψ⁢([(abcd)])⋅Ψ⁢([(efgh)])=Ψ⁢([(abcd)]⋅[(efgh)]).

A monomorphismMathworldPlanetmathPlanetmathPlanetmath:

If Ψ⁢([(abcd)])=Ψ⁢([(a′b′c′d′)]), then it follows that (a′,b′,c′,d′)=t⁢(a,b,c,d), so that [(abcd)]=[(a′b′c′d′)].

An epimorphismMathworldPlanetmath:

Any Möbius transformation z↦a⁢z+bc⁢z+d is the image Ψ⁢([(abcd)]).

Title isomorphism of the group PSL_2(C) with the group of Möbius transformations
Canonical name IsomorphismOfTheGroupPSL2CWithTheGroupOfMobiusTransformations
Date of creation 2013-03-22 12:43:30
Last modified on 2013-03-22 12:43:30
Owner rspuzio (6075)
Last modified by rspuzio (6075)
Numerical id 9
Author rspuzio (6075)
Entry type Result
Classification msc 57S25