The SU(3) Algebra in a Cyclic Basis

Abstract

With the couplings between the eight gluons constrained by the structure constants of the su(3) algebra in QCD, one would expect that there should exist a special basis (or set of bases) for the algebra wherein, unlike in a Cartan-Weyl basis, {\em all} gluons interact identically (cyclically) with each other, explicitly on an equal footing. We report here particular such bases, which we have found in a computer search, and we indicate associated $3 \times 3$ representations. We conjecture that essentially all cyclic bases for su(3) may be obtained from these making appropriate circulant transformations,and that cyclic bases may also exist for other su(n), n>3.